My IELTS Classroom Podcast: Recent Episodes
Shelly Cornick and Nick Lone
Welcome to the podcast where two ex-examiners sit down every week to discuss all thing IELTS. It doesn't matter if you are new to IELTS or have been struggling to achieve your band scores for a long time, Nick and Shelly will help you complete your IELTS journey in the least painful way possible. So, if you are looking for two teachers who offer clear practical advice about how to prepare for the IELTS test, have over 30-years teaching experience, and make IELTS enjoyable, then you are in the right place! Oh, we also believe that lessons should be fun and interactive too, so be prepared to take part in every class so that you can say "This is My IELTS Classroom" too. New episodes every Tuesday.
Hey! To end 2024, Shelly is going to take you on a tour of the CEFR. She will explain what the Common European Framework of Reference is and how it underpins every high-quality language test, including IELTS. More importantly, she will explain what happens when "teachers" forget that IELTS is based on the CEFR (Spoiler: It is not good).
There is a YouTube video to accompany this post, which will be posted later this week. So, if you would like to see the slides and examples of the CEFR tables, you can find it on the My IELTS Classroom channel from January 6th.
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Hey! Nick and I are back with our final (and second!) episode of 2024 - our breakdown of the essay questions in the Cambridge IELTS General Training 18 book.
As usual, we analyse the four questions in turn, offering our ideas and discussing what could make each question easy or difficult for test-takers. And, boy-oh-boy, do the questions in this book range in difficulty! We think they go all the way from a 0 to a 10, which just shows how much the difficulty of a test can vary based on the topic of the question.
As always, to get the most of this episode, it is best if you spend some time generating of ideas for each of the four questions before you listen.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year - see you in 2025!
NIck and Shelly
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Hello? Is anybody still out there? It has been 410 days since we last released a podcast, but Nick and I are back to spread some Christmas IELTS joy!
Is this the start of a new run of My IELTS Classroom episodes, or just some festive fun? Well, you will have to listen to find out!
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Yes, after 76 days of silence, Nick and I are back to start a new season of My IELTS classroom!
Today, we consider how much IELTS actually prepares you for university life in the UK. We will consider what skills you need to succeed in a degree course and how many are covered in the exam. More importantly, we’ll think about what “gaps” a student might have in their academic skills even if they gave achieved a high-level score.
Useful Links
- Download my free ebook "An ex-examiner's guide to the Band IELTS Descriptors": https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-examiner-ebook-mark/
- Watch the free video lessons on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiLz9Dbe4NEIu5OCy0WA1sg
Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.
Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:
- IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- IELTS Essay Corrections: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
- IELTS Speaking lessons: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
- Free Podcast episodes: https://myieltsclassroom.buzzsprout.com
Support the show
Hey! Today Nick and I tackle a reading from the new Cambridge IELTS 18 book. We choose to passage 3 from Test 2, which is titled "An Ideal City". Why? Well, it's because it contains a rather unusual summary completion question.
Usually summaries are given in a single paragraph, or divided into two shorter paragraphs. This summary, however, is divided into THREE parts and is much longer than the usual summaries that appear. What difference does this make to the way that you should approach this question? Listen to find out!
Plus, we discuss exam management techniques such as how to preview passages, and allays the questions.
Useful Links
- Download my free ebook "An ex-examiner's guide to the Band IELTS Descriptors": https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-examiner-ebook-mark/
- Watch the free video lessons on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiLz9Dbe4NEIu5OCy0WA1sg
Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.
Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:
- IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- IELTS Essay Corrections:https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
- IELTS Speaking lessons: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
- Free Podcast episodes: https://myieltsclassroom.buzzsprout.com
- Support the show by becoming a Patron: https://www.patreon.com/myieltsclassroom
For the Love of It
For the Love of It isn't just a podcast about good conversation. It's a podcast about...
Listen on: Apple Podcasts
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Hey! Today, Nick and I tackling the listening test from IELTS Cambridge 18 Test 4. This is the latest book of past test papers, so is a great chance for you to practice the most recent IELTS test format.
Plus, Nick and I will analyse all of the questions and discuss which we think are "easy" and which are difficult.
This is an interactive lesson, so you can download the listening test that we use in this lesson here:.Useful Links
- Download my free ebook "An ex-examiner's guide to the Band IELTS Descriptors": https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-examiner-ebook-mark/
- Watch the free video lessons on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiLz9Dbe4NEIu5OCy0WA1sg
Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.
Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:
- IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- IELTS Essay Corrections:https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
- IELTS Speaking lessons: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
- Free Podcast episodes: https://myieltsclassroom.buzzsprout.com
Support the show
Hey. Last week Nick and I answered 6 of your questions about the IELTS exam. Today, we go though more of my mailbox to give you answers to enquiries such as
- how can you tell if a letter is semi-formal or informal
- when you should complain about speaking scores
- whether singular and plural nouns are important in the listening exam or not
You can ask me a question any time by emailing hello@myieltsclassroom,com.
Useful Links
- Download my free ebook "An ex-examiner's guide to the Band IELTS Descriptors": https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-examiner-ebook-mark/
- Watch the free video lessons on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiLz9Dbe4NEIu5OCy0WA1sg
Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.
Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:
- IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- IELTS Essay Corrections:https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
- IELTS Speaking lessons: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
- Free Podcast episodes: https://myieltsclassroom.buzzsprout.com
- Support the show by becoming a Patron: https://www.patreon.com/myieltsclassroom
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Every week I get dozens of emails from our My IELTS Classroom students, podcast listeners, YouTube followers and Newsletter subscribers asking questions about the IELST exam. They range from questions are about exam procedures to questions about how the exam is marked or how the student can maximise their preparation.
Today, I thought that I would share a range of the emails that I have received in the last couple of weeks. Not only will that give you an insight into the life of an IELTS teacher, but it may also answer some of your own doubts about the exam.
You can ask me a question any time by emailing hello@myieltsclassroom,com.
Useful Links
- Download my free ebook "An ex-examiner's guide to the Band IELTS Descriptors": https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-examiner-ebook-mark/
- Watch the free video lessons on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiLz9Dbe4NEIu5OCy0WA1sg
Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.
Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:
- IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- IELTS Essay Corrections:https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
- IELTS Speaking lessons: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
- Free Podcast episodes: https://myieltsclassroom.buzzsprout.com
- Support the show by becoming a Patron: https://www.patreon.com/myieltsclassroom
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Yes! Finally, on our third attempt, Nick and I have managed to successfully record an episode analysing the essays in the new Cambridge IELTS 18 Academic book. We offer our ideas and insights into the new questions, including how we will organise each essay and what our position would be. Plus, we rate the difficulty level of each question.
This is an interactive lesson, so make sure you spend at least 5 minutes generating ideas for each essay before you listen.
Useful Links
- Download my free ebook "An ex-examiner's guide to the Band IELTS Descriptors": https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-examiner-ebook-mark/
- Watch the free video lessons on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiLz9Dbe4NEIu5OCy0WA1sg
Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.
Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:
- IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- IELTS Essay Corrections:https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
- IELTS Speaking lessons: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
- Free Podcast episodes: https://myieltsclassroom.buzzsprout.com
- Support the show by becoming a Patron: https://www.patreon.com/myieltsclassroom
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Today, Nick and I discuss one of the most important IELTS questions - why are so many students stuck at a 6.5 for IELTS writing? Is it because there is a conspiracy to trick test-takers, or are there other less sinister reasons? You can find the full episode notes and a transcript of the conversation at http://podcast.myieltsclassroom.com/This is a re-run of an episode from 2020, so don't be surprised if Nick and I sound so youthful!
Episode NotesFollowing on from our lesson last week, today we look at the most common IELTS myth - examiners are changing test-takers writing scores on purpose to prevent them getting a 7.0. Is there really any evidence for this? Well PC Lone and Sargent Cornick will investigate to find out! Then, we will spend the rest of the episode discussing the most common errors in that we saw when we were examiners when marking students' essays. Are you making these mistakes? Well, join the episode to find out!
In this episode, we will discuss:
- if it is possible that Cambridge, the British Council, IDP, examiners, or individual test centres are changing scores of purposively making it hard for students to get a 7.0 in IELTS writing?
- why students tend to get a lower score in writing than in the other parts of test
- the most common errors that we see with Task Response, Coherence and Cohesion, Lexical Resource, Grammatical Range and Accuracy that stop students getting a 7.0 for their IELTS essay
Useful Links
- Find out the three most difficult essay questions in the Cambridge IELTS books: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/cambridge-ielts-books/
- Complete my free lesson for subject / verb agreement: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-grammar-subject-verb-agreement/
- Watch my free video lesson for articles: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/programs/articles
- Watch my free video lesson for contrast clauses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/programs/three-types-of-contrast
Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.
Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:
- IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- IELTS Essay Corrections:https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
- IELTS Speaking lessons: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
- Free Podcast episodes: https://myieltsclassroom.buzzsprout.com
Support the show
Hey! A couple of weeks ago, we received an email from one of our listeners (thanks Adam!) asking if all the fuss happening on YouTube about the "NEW IELTS Band Descriptors" was true. My immediate reaction was "probably not", but when I did a deep dive, it turned out that it was!
Yes, IELTS have finally released the examiner version of the band descriptors for writing. Let me be clear, this will NOT change the way that your writing is marked in any way. However, it does give students a better idea of the "ceiling scores" that can prevent you getting a high score.
Find out what those ceiling scores are and how you can avoid them in today's episode.
Useful Links
- Download my free ebook "An ex-examiner's guide to the Band IELTS Descriptors": https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-examiner-ebook-mark/
- Watch the free video lessons on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiLz9Dbe4NEIu5OCy0WA1sg
Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.
Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:
- IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- IELTS Essay Corrections:https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
- IELTS Speaking lessons: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
- Free Podcast episodes: https://myieltsclassroom.buzzsprout.com
Support the show
Today, we continue our journey into the world of IELTS listening any how the exam writers try to confuse you by playing with opposites. This week, we move away from lexis and into the word of grammar. In particular, the 2nd and 3rd conditionals.
Nick and I will explain exactly what the 2nd and 3rd conditional are, how they are formed, and how IELTS using them in listening recordings to confuse you!
This is an interactive episode so please have a pen and piece of paper ready so that you can join in the activities.
Useful Links
- Join our intensive listening course: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/listening
- Watch the first three lessons in my IELTS essay video course: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/programs/writing-task-2-academic-general-training
Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.
Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:
- IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- IELTS Essay Corrections:https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
- IELTS Speaking lessons: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
- Free Podcast episodes: https://myieltsclassroom.buzzsprout.com
Support the show
Hey! Nick and I have recorded many episodes about IELTS listening. Usually, we focus on one particular type of question and break down which listening skills it is testing, and how you should approach it best. Plus, for everyone type of question, there are two or three "tricks" that IELTS uses to try to force you to choose the wrong answer (although these are not really "tricks" but good testing methods that check that you really understand the recording!)
Today, we are doing something different. Today, we really are looking at a trick that IELTS uses in a range of questions. That' s using "opposites". Join Nick and I as we explain how the "opposite" trick works, and then show it to you in action using four questions from the Cambridge IELTS books.
This is an interactive episode so please have a pen and piece of paper ready so that you can join in the activities.
Useful Links
- Join our intensive listening course: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/listening
- Watch the first three lessons in my IELTS essay video course: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/programs/writing-task-2-academic-general-training
Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.
Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:
- IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- IELTS Essay Corrections:https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
- IELTS Speaking lessons: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
- Free Podcast episodes: https://myieltsclassroom.buzzsprout.com
Support the show
Hey! Today, Nick and I continue our journey into idiomatic language by looking at phrasal verbs. We will explain what phrasal verbs are, how some are separable and some are inseparable, and demonstrate phrasal verbs in action in Speaking Part 1!
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Hey! One of the criteria to score a 7.0 or higher in the IELTS speaking test is being able to show good use of "idiomatic language". But, what is idiomatic language, and when should you introduce it into your vocabulary. Join Nick and I today to discuss
- the path that most English language learners take when they are learning lexis
- when idioms should be introduced
- the problems second-language learners face when using idioms
- which idioms we fee could be useful for IELTS test-takers
And finally, we introduce you to another type of idiomatic language that could be more useful in your exam than pure idioms.
Useful Links
- Join our next intensive speaking course: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Introduction to IELTS Speaking http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/introduction-to-ielts-speaking/
Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.
Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:
- IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- IELTS Essay Corrections:https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
- IELTS Speaking lessons: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
- Free Podcast episodes: https://myieltsclassroom.buzzsprout.com
Support the show
Hey! It is the first podcast episode in May, which can only mean one thing - it is time to get motivated! Spring can be a great time of year to start new patterns of living and affect change in our lives.
So, why not join Nick and I today as we go back and look at some of the motivational techniques that we have recommended in previous years to see if we still feel they work. Plus we will offer a brand new technique (The "Do Something" principle), and Shelly will share a personal story that she hopes may motivate you even further!
Useful Links
- Download my free ebook "An ex-examiner's guide to the Band IELTS Descriptors": https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-examiner-ebook-mark/
- Watch the free video lessons on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiLz9Dbe4NEIu5OCy0WA1sg
Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.
Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:
- IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- IELTS Essay Corrections:https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
- IELTS Speaking lessons: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
- Free Podcast episodes: https://myieltsclassroom.buzzsprout.com
Support the show
We have spoken in depth on the podcast about IELTS maps, and IELTS line graphs before, but today it is the turn of IELTS bar charts. I would say of all the possible charts that you could be given on your exam day, IELTS bar charts are the most versatile. Why? Well, not only can they be used to represent change or to show comparisons individually, but they can also be used to show changes without time! Intrigued? You should be!
In this episode, Nick and I will clearly explain
- how you should look for the key features in both change and compare IELTS bar charts
- how you can organise the items on IELTS bar bar charts into logical specific details paragraphs
- how you should approach writing the specific details paragraphs i.e. what language you should use and which information you should present first
- how you should tackle IELTS bar charts that ask you to compare different age groups
Plus, we will look at charts that do not follow the usual pattern so that you can be prepared for all IELTS bar charts on your exam day.
Useful Links
- Download my free ebook "An ex-examiner's guide to the Band IELTS Descriptors": https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-examiner-ebook-mark/
- Watch the free video lessons on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiLz9Dbe4NEIu5OCy0WA1sg
Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.
Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:
- IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- IELTS Essay Corrections:https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
- IELTS Speaking lessons: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
- Free Podcast episodes: https://myieltsclassroom.buzzsprout.com
Support the show
Hey! Way back in 2020, Nick and I discussed the basic techniques for completing IELTS listening matching questions. However, these are some of the most difficult question in the exam, especially in Part 3, and we have noticed that many students still struggle answering them even when they know the basic principles.
That's why today, we want to share a more advanced technique that can help you deal with tricky questions in the exam. Plus, we will attempt one of the most difficult questions that we have ever seen in the new Cambridge 17 book - and you will come along with us for the ride.
You can listen to the original IELTS listening matching episode here: https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-listening-matching-questions/
This is an interactive episode so please have a pen and piece of paper ready so that you can join in the activities.
Useful Links
- Join our intensive listening course: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/listening
- Watch the first three lessons in my IELTS essay video course: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/programs/writing-task-2-academic-general-training
Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.
Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:
- IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- IELTS Essay Corrections:https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
- IELTS Speaking lessons: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
- Free Podcast episodes: https://myieltsclassroom.buzzsprout.com
Support the show
Join Nick and I today as we look at six essay questions that have recently appeared in the IELTS Academic and General Training exams. We will discuss our ideas for each topic, explain what our positions would be, and give each question a difficulty rating.
You will get far more from this episode if you spend 2 or 3 minutes looking at each question and planning your IELTS essay now
- Some people think that water is the most important natural resource. Others believe that other resources (such as oil and gold) are more important. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
- Too much emphasis is placed on education. More government money should be spent on providing free-time activities. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
- Celebrities and famous people require constant attention from the media (newspapers, Internet). Do you agree or disagree?
- Many students find it harder to study at university or college than when they were at school. What are the reasons for this? What can be done to solve the issue?
- Many places of natural beauty like mountains, lakes, and beaches are spoiled by the rubbish that people leave there. Why do people do this? What can be done about this problem?
- In many cities and towns today, few people know their neighbours. What are the effects of this trend? What can be done to resolve the issue?
Useful Links
- Download my free ebook "An ex-examiner's guide to the Band IELTS Descriptors": https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-examiner-ebook-mark/
- Watch the free video lessons on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiLz9Dbe4NEIu5OCy0WA1sg
Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.
Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:
- IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- IELTS Essay Corrections:https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
- IELTS Speaking lessons: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
- Free Podcast episodes: https://myieltsclassroom.buzzsprout.com
Support the show
Hey! 2 weeks ago Nick and I set you to the challenge of recording your answers to 5 very difficult Speaking Part 3 questions. Today, Nick and I listen to the recordings sent by our our listeners to give feedback. We will consider
- the quality of the students' ideas (and how they could be improved)
- the appropriacy of the vocabulary used in the responses
- the impact of L1 on pronunciation
- the affect of small grammar errors on a test-takers's score
Thank you to everybody who sent us a recording - we will email everybody who did not appear on the show with feedback this week.
Useful Links
- Join our next intensive speaking course: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Introduction to IELTS Speaking http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/introduction-to-ielts-speaking/
Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.
Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:
- IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- IELTS Essay Corrections:https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
- IELTS Speaking lessons: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
- Free Podcast episodes: https://myieltsclassroom.buzzsprout.com
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Hey! We have a technical difficulty here at My IELTS Classroom - the wind is blowing a gale and it has knocked out Shelly's Wifi, so Nick and I couldn't record an episode this week.
Therefore, we are re-running our original episode on Speaking Part 3. That way, you can listen to this episode and last week's episode and then take part in our free Speaking Part 3 feedback.
If you want to take part in next week's episode, you can record your answers to the IELTS Speaking Part 3 questions at the start of this blog post: https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/unlock-ielts-speaking-part-3-questions/
Episode NotesIn IELTS Speaking Part 3, the focus moves away from you to the world around you. This means that you must be able to speak about abstract topics, which is not easy even for high-level test takers.
In this episode, Nick and I explain how to approach Part 3 well by looking at the types of question you will be asked, the common topics covered, and the right and wrong way to answer the questions in this part of the test. We will discuss
- The basic facts about Speaking Part 3
- What type of language you will need to address the questions
- What good responses to the questions in this part of the test look like
- Common topics in IELTS Speaking Part 3
- What to do if you have no ideas for a question
Useful Links
- Join our next intensive speaking course: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Introduction to IELTS Speaking http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/introduction-to-ielts-speaking/
Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.
Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:
- IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- IELTS Essay Corrections:https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
- IELTS Speaking lessons: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
- Free Podcast episodes: https://myieltsclassroom.buzzsprout.com
Support the show
Just a reminder that we are giving you the chance to record your own responses to five IELTS Speaking Part 3 questions and send them to us for feedback on next week’s episode.
Record your answers to the following questions on your phone or computer, and email them to us at hello@myieltsclassroom.com before March 12th to be on the show.
Remember, your recording should be no more than about 4 minutes!
- Why are people more likely to expect things instantly now than in the past?
- Do you think society today is more strongly influenced by young people or old people?
- Is communication technology creating more information than people can deal with?
- How can recordings of people’s personal memories deepen our understanding of historical events?
- Why do you think so many extreme sports have been invented in recent years?
Also you can take part in our competition to win a free One Month Subscription to all the My IELTS Classroom videos and live lessons, plus a free piece of marking by leaving a comment on one of our YouTube videos that includes the word "podcast" here . The competition will run until we hit our target of 4,000 watch hours for the year. We are currently standing at about 3800, so watch a few videos and leave your comments soon to be in with a chance of winning this great prize!
See you next week!
Support the show
Take part in our competition to win a free One Month Subscription to all the My IELTS Classroom videos and live lessons, plus a free piece of marking by leaving a comment on one of our YouTube videos that includes the word "podcast" here Then join Nick and I as we first discuss the basics of IELTS Speaking Part 3 and some simple strategies to help you address the questions even when they are super-hard, and then look at how to identify the "hidden" topic in these questions.
If you would like to feature on our episode next week, just record yourself answering the following 5 questions. Remember, your recording should be no more than about 4 minutes:
- Why are people more likely to expect things instantly now than in the past?
- Do you think society today is more strongly influenced by young people or old people?
- Is communication technology creating more information than people can deal with?
- How can recordings of people’s personal memories deepen our understanding of historical events?
- Why do you think so many extreme sports have been invented in recent years?
Useful Links
- Join our next intensive speaking course: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Introduction to IELTS Speaking http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/introduction-to-ielts-speaking/
Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.
Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:
- IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- IELTS Essay Corrections:https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
- IELTS Speaking lessons: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
- Free Podcast episodes: https://myieltsclassroom.buzzsprout.com
Support the show
Last year, Nick and I recorded two episodes about how to build paragraphs. They are among our most popular content and have been viewed over 20,000 times. However, even when students extend their ideas and try to justify their position, they can still end up with arguments that are vague and contain almost no topic-specific lexis.
Today, Nick and I show you how to identify vague arguments and fix them by giving more specific explanations and examples. As you will see, doing this can really take your essay from a Band 6 to a Band 8 in terms of Task Response, and will help you start using the RIGHT TYPE of lexis in your essays (i.e., vocabulary that is topic-specific).
We will also should you how offering examples that show “a range” can help you to handle very broad topics.
Useful Links
- Download my free ebook "An ex-examiner's guide to the Band IELTS Descriptors": https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-examiner-ebook-mark/
- Watch the free video lessons on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiLz9Dbe4NEIu5OCy0WA1sg
Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.
Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:
- IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- IELTS Essay Corrections:https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
- IELTS Speaking lessons: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
- Free Podcast episodes: https://myieltsclassroom.buzzsprout.com
Support the show
Hey! I have always loved teaching IELTS Academic Task 1. Many students are afraid of charts, but I have always found that if you teach test-takers some basic principles, then it is always possible to find the key features and organise the report well.
However, this week, I was looking at the new IELTS Cambridge 17 Academic Report Questions and I have to say that two of the prompts in the current book are VERY difficult. I am talking climbing Everest bare-foot with an elephant on your back difficult.
Join Nick and I today to see which two questions those are, and how we could tackle them if they appeared in our exam.
Useful Links
- Download my free ebook "An ex-examiner's guide to the Band IELTS Descriptors": https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-examiner-ebook-mark/
- Watch the free video lessons on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiLz9Dbe4NEIu5OCy0WA1sg
Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.
Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:
- IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- IELTS Essay Corrections:https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
- IELTS Speaking lessons: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
- Free Podcast episodes: https://myieltsclassroom.buzzsprout.com
Support the show
Hey! Today, Nick and I are travelling back in time to complete the IELTS Cambridge 6 Test 3 listening test, which was first published in 2007. Why? Well, it's not because we were younger and better looking then, but because we want to give you a chance to experience the older IELTS test format, which seems to be making a come back in exam rooms.
This is an interactive lesson, so you can download the listening test that we use in this lesson here Useful Links
- Download my free ebook "An ex-examiner's guide to the Band IELTS Descriptors": https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-examiner-ebook-mark/
- Watch the free video lessons on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiLz9Dbe4NEIu5OCy0WA1sg
Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.
Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:
- IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- IELTS Essay Corrections:https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
- IELTS Speaking lessons: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
- Free Podcast episodes: https://myieltsclassroom.buzzsprout.com
Support the show
Hey! Please do NOT panic! There are no major changes happening to the IELTS exam (that I am aware of) in 2023 - they are not adding a new section to the speaking exam, or changing the amount of time that you have for each section, or making the reading passages more difficult.
However, some of our students have reported over the last few weeks that some of the exams that they have sat at the start of 2023 have deviated slightly from the current Cambridge book format.
Today, Nick and I explain what those changes are and how that could affect your IELTS preparation. You can read more about the episode on this link: https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-exam-format-changing-in-2023/
Useful Links
- Download my free ebook "An ex-examiner's guide to the Band IELTS Descriptors": https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-examiner-ebook-mark/
- Watch the free video lessons on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiLz9Dbe4NEIu5OCy0WA1sg
Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.
Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:
- IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- IELTS Essay Corrections:https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
- IELTS Speaking lessons: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
- Free Podcast episodes: https://myieltsclassroom.buzzsprout.com
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Hey! Yes, Nick and I have finally got out hands on a copy of the new Cambridge IELTS 17 General Training book! Today, we look at the four essay questions to discuss how difficult the questions are, how we would approach each one, and what ideas we would use as the basis of our arguments.
As always, we recommend that you spend time analysing the questions and coming up with your own arguments before you listen to the episode? Why? Well, Nick and I won't be sitting on your shoulder in the real test, so it is important that YOU actually take the time to come up with arguments first, and then compare your own ideas to ours. That way, you will see where you went "wrong" and also where you went "right"! That is a key component of learning! Here are the questions:
- In the future, people may no longer be able to pay for things in shops using cash. All payments may have to be made by card or using phones. Do you think this will happen one day? Why do you think some people might not be happy to give up using cash?
- In some countries, more and more people are hiring a personal fitness trainer, rather than playing sports or doing exercise classes. What are the reasons for this? Is this a positive or negative development?
- It is better to buy just a few expensive clothes, rather than a lot of cheaper clothes. Do you agree or disagree?
- Some people that it's a good idea to socialise with work colleagues during evenings and weekends/ Other people think it is important to keep working life completely separate from social life. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.
Useful Links
- Download my free ebook "An ex-examiner's guide to the Band IELTS Descriptors": https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-examiner-ebook-mark/
- Watch the free video lessons on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiLz9Dbe4NEIu5OCy0WA1sg
Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.
Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:
- IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- IELTS Essay Corrections:https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
- IELTS Speaking lessons: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
- Free Podcast episodes: https://myieltsclassroom.buzzsprout.com
Support the show
Unless you have been living under a rock (or not spending every moment on social media), I am sure that you have heard about Chat GPT - the new artificial intelligence search engine that can write advertising campaigns, poems, or hundreds of pages of code in milliseconds (and trust, me this is just the tip of the iceberg). Oh, and I did I mention that it will deliver these to you as if they had been written by a human? Seriously, the future is now!
However, while the launch of this product is causing people to fear for their jobs (and teachers to fear for the uselessness of homework assignments!), what Nick and I want to find out today whether an IELTS essay produced by Chat GPT are of a high quality and what use, if any, the tool is to IELTS test takers!
Useful Links
- Support the podcast and access BONUS episodes here - https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/patreon/
- Download my free ebook "An ex-examiner's guide to the Band IELTS Descriptors": https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-examiner-ebook-mark/
- Watch the free video lessons on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiLz9Dbe4NEIu5OCy0WA1sg
Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.
Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:
- IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- IELTS Essay Corrections:https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
- IELTS Speaking lessons: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
- Free Podcast episodes: https://myieltsclassroom.buzzsprout.com
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Happy New Year! Yes, we are back for a third year of the My IELTS Classroom podcast (albeit a bit late as Shelly has had COVID!) Last year we helped students in 138 different countries prepare for IELTS in 52 episodes that totalled almost 2,500 hours of contest! If you were one of the 150,000 people who downloaded an episodes - THANK YOU! It really means a lot.
Today, Nick and talk about New Year's resolutions - why people have them, what they usual are, and how you can make sure that you actually stick to yours. This will include practical advice so that you can avoid the 6 most common reasons that people fail to achieve their goals.
Why? Well, we hope that 2023 will be the last year that you need us - after all, IELTS is only supposed to me a small part of your life journey!
Useful Links
- Support the podcast and access BONUS episodes here - https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/patreon/
- Download my free ebook "An ex-examiner's guide to the Band IELTS Descriptors": https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-examiner-ebook-mark/
- Watch the free video lessons on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiLz9Dbe4NEIu5OCy0WA1sg
Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.
Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:
- IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- IELTS Essay Corrections:https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
- IELTS Speaking lessons: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
- Free Podcast episodes: https://myieltsclassroom.buzzsprout.com
Support the show
Can you hear the sound of bells jingling? That't right! It the final Tuesday before the 25th of December, which can mean only one thing - it is our annual Christmas IELTS Quiz.
Only this year, there are absolutely NO questions about IELTS whatsoever, so it really us just a chance for Nick and I to let our hair down and talk about the Christmas traditions we enjoyed growing up in the UK.
Obviously, if you are preparing for your exam and sitting first, you may want to skip this episode and go back to one of the 145 in our back catalogue to work on your IELTS skills. You can find them all on this page: https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/category/podcast/
But, if you have been listening for a few months (or all year), then why not take this opportunity to sit back, relax, and find out more about life in the UK.
Useful Links
- Join our next intensive speaking course: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Introduction to IELTS Speaking http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/introduction-to-ielts-speaking/
Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.
Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:
- IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- IELTS Essay Corrections:https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
- IELTS Speaking lessons: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
- Free Podcast episodes: https://myieltsclassroom.buzzsprout.com
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At the end of last week's episode (in which Nick and I explained how the examiner will band your speaking performance for Fluency and Coherence,I sent out a call on social media for our listeners to record themselves attempting four current speaking part two questions. We will highlight some common errors and give expected scores based on the public band descriptors.
Useful Links
- Join our next 5-day intensive speaking course: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- If you are just starting IELTS, then find out more about what happens in the exam in our Introduction to IELTS Speaking episode : http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/introduction-to-ielts-speaking/
- You may find our episode about the speaking band descriptors useful as well: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-speaking-band-descriptors/
Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.
Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:
- IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- IELTS Essay Corrections:https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
- IELTS Speaking lessons: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
- Free Podcast episodes: https://myieltsclassroom.buzzsprout.com
Support the show
In the IELTS Speaking exam, the examiner will give you a score in 4 areas: Fluency and Coherence, Lexical Range, Grammatical Range and Accuracy, and Pronunciation. Your final score will be the average of these four scores rounded down.
However, recently I realised that that there is a lot of confusion among students as to exactly what the examiner is looking for when they grade Fluency and Coherence. Fluency is relatively clear and easy to understand - that is your ability to speak without pauses or hesitations for languages. But what exactly is "coherence"? The band descriptors tell us that it is the use of "connective devices and discourse markers", but are discourse markers the same as transition signals? And what exactly are connective devices in speech? That is what Nick and I discuss in today's episode.
Plus, if you would like to join our IELTS speaking challenge next week, you can choose from the following questions and email your recording to hello@myieltsclassroom.com
- a well-known and popular person in your country
- a time when you made a hard decision which had a positive result
- something you do to stay fit & healthy
- a traditional product from your country
Useful Links
- Join our next intensive speaking course: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Introduction to IELTS Speaking http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/introduction-to-ielts-speaking/
Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.
Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:
- IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- IELTS Essay Corrections:https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
- IELTS Speaking lessons: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
- Free Podcast episodes: https://myieltsclassroom.buzzsprout.com
Support the show
Hey everyone. IELTS reading MCQs have always been one of the most difficult to tackle in IELTS. That is because they can either test your understanding of the information given in the passage of your understanding of the writer's purpose or aim.
Until now, 90% of questions have focussed on the former, but I noticed that in Cambridge IELTS Academic 17, almost ALL of the questions asked you to analyse what the writer was doing. This is obviously a massive change and one that could be challenging for many students.
Today, Nick and I look at the MCQ's from Test 1, Passage 3 To Catch a King to show you how you should approach this type of task.
This is an interactive lesson, so we recommend that you follow along while reading the passages on this link: https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-reading-mcqs/
In the lesson we will
- explain how you can look for the writer's "main purpose"
- outline the importance of summary words
- show you how to understand why a reader has included particular examples
- plus, you should learn the value of reading the whole paragraph before attempting these questions
Useful Links
- Download my free ebook "An ex-examiner's guide to the Band IELTS Descriptors": https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-examiner-ebook-mark/
- Watch the free video lessons on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiLz9Dbe4NEIu5OCy0WA1sg
Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.
Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:
- IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- IELTS Essay Corrections:https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
- IELTS Speaking lessons: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
- Free Podcast episodes: https://myieltsclassroom.buzzsprout.com
Support the show
Every few weeks I get an email from a student who would like to know how to prepare for the IELTS Life Skills test. Sadly, I know nothing about the test, so I usually just point them in the direction of the official website and wish them luck.
However, this week Nick discovered that one of his friend's had recently taken the test, so today he is going to explain to me exactly what the test is, who needs to take it, and how it is marked.
Even if you don't need to take the test, this is an interesting insight into a different test works, and you will get to hear my brain explode!
Useful Links
- Support the podcast and access BONUS episodes here - https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/patreon/
- Download my free ebook "An ex-examiner's guide to the Band IELTS Descriptors": https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-examiner-ebook-mark/
- Watch the free video lessons on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiLz9Dbe4NEIu5OCy0WA1sg
Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.
Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:
- IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- IELTS Essay Corrections:https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
- IELTS Speaking lessons: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
- Free Podcast episodes: https://myieltsclassroom.buzzsprout.com
Support the show
Hey! IELTS is well-known for recycling the same topics for Speaking Part 2 again and again. However, they do sometimes introduce new topics into the exam, which can confuse some students.
Today, Nick and I analyse 5 new IELTS Speaking Part 2 topics from 2022 to show you how you can come up with ideas quickly for ANY topic. Plus, we will provide model answers for two questions.
Useful Links
- Join our next intensive speaking course: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Introduction to IELTS Speaking http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/introduction-to-ielts-speaking/
Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.
Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:
- IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- IELTS Essay Corrections:https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
- IELTS Speaking lessons: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
- Free Podcast episodes: https://myieltsclassroom.buzzsprout.com
Support the show
Shelly is sick today, so we are planning a re-run of our most popular ever episode - how to nail IELTS Listening Part 3!
Many students find Part 3 of the IELTS listening test the most difficult. There are a number of reasons for this: there are more than two voices, the questions usually focus on the outcome of a discussion in which many views are offered, and you may also be asked to locate a person's feelings (and we all know that feelings are much harder to find than facts!)
You can find the full episode notes for this episode and a transcript of the conversation at https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-listening-part-3/
Episode NotesIn today's episode, Nick and I try make Part 3 slightly easier by going through FOUR of the common "tricks" used by IELTS test writers that you can avoid being fooled by them. In this episode, we will:
- remind you of the basic information about Listening Part 3
- examine the Rapid Fire Key Words Trick
- examine the Synonyms Trick
- the Have You Read the Question Properly Trick
- the Several Speakers Trick
This is an interactive episode so please have a pen and piece of paper ready so that you can join in the activities.
Useful Links
- Join our intensive listening course: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/listening Watch the first three lessons in my General Training Task 1 video course: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/categories/general-training-writing-task-1
- Watch the first three lessons in my Academic Task 1 video course: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/categories/academic-writing-task-1
- Watch the first three lessons in my IELTS essay video course: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/programs/writing-task-2-academic-general-training
Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.
Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:
- IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- IELTS Essay Corrections: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
- IELTS Speaking lessons: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
- Free Podcast episodes: https://myieltsclassroom.buzzsprout.com
Queens On A Roll
This podcast was created to educate & inspire people about the ably different...
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Last week, IELTS IDP announced that they are planning to introduce a new test called the IELTS One Skill Retake. This will give students the opportunity to retake only one section of the four skills (Listening, Reading, Writing or Speaking) in the IELTS test if they did not achieve the score they aimed for the first time around.
Obviously, this could make a HUGE difference to the experience test-takers have of the IELTS exam, but there are still many questions left unanswered at this stage. For example, will you be able to take the One Skill Retake once, or many times? How much will it cost? And will all professional bodies and governments accept the One Skill Retake certificate?
This is what Nick and I will be discussing in today's episode. You can read more at: https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-one-skill-retake/
Useful Links
- Support the podcast and access BONUS episodes here - https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/patreon/
- Download my free ebook "An ex-examiner's guide to the Band IELTS Descriptors": https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-examiner-ebook-mark/
- Watch the free video lessons on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiLz9Dbe4NEIu5OCy0WA1sg
Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.
Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:
- IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- IELTS Essay Corrections:https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
- IELTS Speaking lessons: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
- Free Podcast episodes: https://myieltsclassroom.buzzsprout.com
Support the show
Today, Nick and I take you on a tour of IELTS spelling. We will cover the basic spelling rules that every test-taker needs to know, such as when you should replace a -y with an -ies, and when you have to double consonants in a word.
Then, we will look at words that are commonly spelt incorrectly by IELTS test-takers, before finishing with a light hearted quiz to see if you can spell better than a native speaker! I am 100% sure that you can do better than Shelly!
Useful Links
- Support the podcast and access BONUS episodes here - https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/patreon/
- Download my free ebook "An ex-examiner's guide to the Band IELTS Descriptors": https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-examiner-ebook-mark/
- Watch the free video lessons on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiLz9Dbe4NEIu5OCy0WA1sg
Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.
Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:
- IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- IELTS Essay Corrections:https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
- IELTS Speaking lessons: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
- Free Podcast episodes: https://myieltsclassroom.buzzsprout.com
Queens On A Roll
This podcast was created to educate & inspire people about the ably different...
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Yes! That's right - this week Nick and I are looking at a grammar point - parallelism! This is not a topic that is widely discussed in the IELTS world, but if you are looking for a score of 7.0 or higher in Writing, it is definitely something that you should pay attention to.
In today's lesson, Nick and I will explain what parallelism is, and take you through the different situations it should be used. We will start with simple examples about parallelism in lists, before moving on to how parallelism should be used in compare and contrast sentences.
You can read more about today's episode at:
Useful Links
- Support the podcast and access BONUS episodes here - https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/patreon/
- Download my free ebook "An ex-examiner's guide to the Band IELTS Descriptors": https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-examiner-ebook-mark/
- Watch the free video lessons on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiLz9Dbe4NEIu5OCy0WA1sg
Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.
Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:
- IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- IELTS Essay Corrections:https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
- IELTS Speaking lessons: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
- Free Podcast episodes: https://myieltsclassroom.buzzsprout.com
Support the show
Hey! Today, Nick and I take a look at what we think are the letter prompts from the new Cambridge IELTS 17. (In other words, although the book was published in July, we were unable to get our hands on a copy so are relying that these are the real questions based on a third source!)
We will look at each question in turn to analyse which tone you will need to adopt, and how you should approach each bullet. Plus, we discover how important to read ALL of the bullets and PLAN your letter before you start writing.
Useful Links
- Support the podcast and access BONUS episodes here - https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/patreon/
- Download my free ebook "An ex-examiner's guide to the Band IELTS Descriptors": https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-examiner-ebook-mark/
- Watch the free video lessons on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiLz9Dbe4NEIu5OCy0WA1sg
Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.
Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:
- IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- IELTS Essay Corrections: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
- Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
Support the show
Hey! I have noticed over the last few years that students really struggle to write letters that are genuinely informal. Even good students who follow all of the language rules for informal letters send me letters to mark that feel "cold" and "stiff" and simply still " too formal". Why is that? Well, that is what I sat down this week to ponder, and the result is this podcast!
Today, Nick and I will show you how you can turn your good informal IELTS letters into great ones by making PERSONAL COMMENTS. Yes, those are often the missing element in a great IELTS letter. We will give you examples of good letters that contain no comments and then show how adding small references to your personal relationship with the recipient can really make a huge difference to your tone. And, why is tone important? Well, it is the quality of your tone that more or less dictates your score for Task Achievement, which is one quarter of your overall score for General Training Task 1.
You can read more about today's episode at: https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-informal-letter/
Useful Links
- Support the podcast and access BONUS episodes here - https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/patreon/
- Download my free ebook "An ex-examiner's guide to the Band IELTS Descriptors": https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-examiner-ebook-mark/
- Watch the free video lessons on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiLz9Dbe4NEIu5OCy0WA1sg
Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.
Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:
- IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- IELTS Essay Corrections: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
- Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
Equip
The Green Acres Women Equip Podcast seeks to equip women with tools for everyday life!
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Stop Drinking and Start Living Podcast With Expert Holistic Alcohol Coach, Mary Wagstaff
Practical Tools & Strategies To Get Alcohol Out Of Your Way & Enhance Your Life
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Hey! We're back this week with a look at some common problems students (who haven't taken our writing course!) run into with essay writing.
In today's episode, we look at some common problems with organisation, grammar, and ideas which can prevent YOU from scoring a 7.0. in writing on exam day.
In this episode, we will
- talk about the 5 mistakes Nick and I find most often in First Assessment essays
- explain some basic pointers about how to correct these errors
- point you in the right direction to our podcast library (already over 100 episodes!) so that you can go into more detail and stop these errors permanently
Useful Links
- Support the podcast and access BONUS episodes here - https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/patreon/
- Download my free ebook "An ex-examiner's guide to the Band IELTS Descriptors": https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-examiner-ebook-mark/
- Watch the free video lessons on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiLz9Dbe4NEIu5OCy0WA1sg
Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.
Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:
- IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- IELTS Essay Corrections:https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
- IELTS Speaking lessons: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
- Free Podcast episodes: https://myieltsclassroom.buzzsprout.com
- Support the show by becoming a Patron: https://www.patreon.com/myieltsclassroo
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Today, Nick and I give IELTS Cue Card Feedback to 7 of our listeners. We will highlight some common errors and give expected scores based on the recordings.
You can read more about today's episode at: :https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-cue-card-feedback-2021 Episode notesLast week, I sent out a call on social media for our listeners to record themselves attempting three speaking part two questions. So today, Nick and I will be giving IELTS cue card feedback baed on the public band descriptors. In this episode, we will
- do a short quiz to review the basics of Speaking Part 2
- explain which band descriptors the examiners focus on most in this part of the test
- give IELTS cue card feedback to 7 students, including band scores and advice on which areas to focus on to improve
Useful Links
- Join our next 5-day intensive speaking course: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- If you are just starting IELTS, then find out more about what happens in the exam in our Introduction to IELTS Speaking episode : http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/introduction-to-ielts-speaking/
- You may find our episode about the speaking band descriptors useful as well: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-speaking-band-descriptors/
Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.
Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:
- IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- IELTS Essay Corrections:https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
- IELTS Speaking lessons: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
- Free Podcast episodes: https://myieltsclassroom.buzzsprout.com
Support the show
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Hey! Last week, Nick and I completed an Academic reading passage from Cambridge 17 Test 4. Today, we thought that we would do the full listening from the same test.
- Click here to download the questions for the lesson
Join us as we complete each section of the test. We will starting by outlining how we would approach each part and reminding you of the best way to approach each one.
Then, we will give you a chance to listen and answer the questions, before giving you our answers and discussing why some items were easy and others were difficult.
This is a great chance for you to put your listening skills into action!Useful Links
- Support the podcast and access BONUS episodes here - https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/patreon/
- Download my free ebook "An ex-examiner's guide to the Band IELTS Descriptors": https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-examiner-ebook-mark/
- Watch the free video lessons on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiLz9Dbe4NEIu5OCy0WA1sg
Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.
Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:
- IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- IELTS Essay Corrections:https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
- IELTS Speaking lessons: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
- Free Podcast episodes: https://myieltsclassroom.buzzsprout.com
- Support the show by becoming a Patron: https://www.patreon.com/myieltsclassroo
Build Your Own Fairytale
The podcast for women who aren’t willing to settle for status quo.
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History of Africa
Take a deep dive deep into African history with this in-depth podcast. From Casablanca...
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Join Nick and I today as we go through the Cambridge IELTS 17 Academic Reading – Timur Gareyev – blindfolded chess champion
In the test, we will discover that although there are definite “rules” for each type of question, there are times when IELTS may break those, so you should be prepared for everything!
Plus, if you have never seen our unique Read Once, Read Well technique (then where have you been!), you have see it in action here!
We will read excerpts from the passage in the podcast, but you will get more out of the lesson if you attempt the reading yourself first. You can find a copy of Cambridge IELTS Reading - Timur Gareyev – blindfolded chess champion on this linkUseful Links
- Download my free ebook "An ex-examiner's guide to the Band IELTS Descriptors": https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-examiner-ebook-mark/
- Watch the free video lessons on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiLz9Dbe4NEIu5OCy0WA1sg
Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.
Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:
- IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- IELTS Essay Corrections:https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
- IELTS Speaking lessons: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
- Free Podcast episodes: https://myieltsclassroom.buzzsprout.com
- Support the show by becoming a Patron: https://www.patreon.com/myieltsclassroom
Smells Like Humans
Like spending time with funny friends talking about curious human behavior.
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In IELTS Speaking Part 3, the focus moves away from you to the world around you. This means that you must be able to speak about abstract topics, which is not easy even for high-level test takers.
If you want to take part in next week's episode, you can record your answers to the IELTS Speaking Part 3 questions at the end of this blog post: :http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-speaking-part-3/
Episode NotesIn this episode, Nick and I explain how to approach these questions well by looking at the types of question you will be asked, the common topics covered, and the right and wrong way to answer the questions in this part of the test. We will discuss
- The basic facts about Speaking Part 3
- What type of language you will need to address the questions
- What good responses to the questions in this part of the test look like
- Common topics in IELTS Speaking Part 3
- What to do if you have no ideas for a question
Useful Links
- Join our next intensive speaking course: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Introduction to IELTS Speaking http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/introduction-to-ielts-speaking/
Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.
Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:
- IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- IELTS Essay Corrections:https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
- IELTS Speaking lessons: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
- Free Podcast episodes: https://myieltsclassroom.buzzsprout.com
Evoke Greatness
Are you interested in hearing the stories of how people navigated their path to greatness?
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Hey! You are in the IELTS reading exam and everything is going well, when suddenly you find a word that you do not recognise, but you know is important. What do you do? Do you pause and think for a few minutes? Do you skip the word and continue reading? Or do you quickly make an educated guess using one of the 5 techniques offered in this podcast?!
Yes, today Nick and I look at a bottom-up reading skill – how to understand vocabulary from context. This is not something that IELTS tests direct in either the Academic or General Training exam, but it is a skill that can help any test taker.
In this episode, we will
- Discuss the difference between bottom-down and bottom-up skills
- Give you 5 techniques to help you guess meaning from context
- Test your knowledge of prefixes
- Look at a short text to put these skills into practice.
Useful Links
- Support the podcast and access BONUS episodes here - https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/patreon/
- Download my free ebook "An ex-examiner's guide to the Band IELTS Descriptors": https://mailchi.mp/myieltsclassroom/examiner-guide-to-ielts-band-descriptors
Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.
Smells Like Humans
Like spending time with funny friends talking about curious human behavior.
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Women in Tech Podcast
Inspiring women in tech share their stories on how they got to where they are today.
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Hey! Maps have long been a possible question-type in Academic Writing Task 1. However, until recently, 99% of maps focused on changes that happened in a town. In recent exams, however, there have been more maps tha focus on changes to specific buildings or road systems.
The problem is that many students still try to use the same key features and organisation for these maps as traditional town maps. The result? A very poor report! Today, Nick and I discuss how you can find better key features for building and road maps, and how you may want to organise these in an entirely different way if there are few changes to the original structure.
This is an interactive lesson - click to view the blog post that contains the maps:Useful Links
- Support the podcast and access BONUS episodes here - https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/patreon/
- Download my free ebook "An ex-examiner's guide to the Band IELTS Descriptors": https://mailchi.mp/myieltsclassroom/examiner-guide-to-ielts-band-descriptors
Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.
Women in Tech Podcast
Inspiring women in tech share their stories on how they got to where they are today.
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The Short Box: A Comic Book Podcast
Join four lifelong friends for entertaining discussions about comics and culture.
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Hey! It's time again for Nick and I to generate ideas for some recent IELTS essay questions. Today, we look at 6 real IELTS Essay Questions 2022, which were all taken from exams in July and August.
You are welcome to sit and passively enjoy the episode, but you will get a lot more out of the lesson if you actively take part.
You can find the questions at https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/real-ielts-essay-questions-2022/
Useful Links
- Learn more about brainstorming ideas - http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/how-can-you-think-of-ideas-for-your-ielts-essay/
- Download our free guide to the band descriptors here - https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-examiner-ebook/
Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.
Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:
- IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- IELTS Essay Corrections:https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
- IELTS Speaking lessons: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
Intrinsic Drive™
This show was born of a desire to explore and share individual and collective...
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Career Sweetspot
A Greenhouse Coaching podcast for career and leadership growth.
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One of the main problems that students face when they start IELTS Writing is generating ideas for IELTS essays. Today, Nick and I look at one way that you should definitely NOT use to find ideas, and then look at two simple approaches that you should. You can read more about today's episodes at: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/my-ielts-classro…for-ielts-essays/
In this episode, we will discuss
- why relying on "model essays" for ideas is often a mistake
- how you can use your life experience to come up with ideas
- the top-down approach to idea generation
- the bottom-up approach to idea generation
- when it can be a good idea to search for ideas online
Useful Links
- Join one of our IELTS Writing Packages: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.
Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:
- IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- IELTS Essay Corrections: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
- IELTS Speaking lessons: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
- Free Podcast episodes: https://myieltsclassroom.buzzsprout.com
I Am…
I Am is about lifting yourself up. We are all amazing and worthy. This podcast is to...
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Hey! It has been a long time since we featured one of our student success stories. Why? Good question! I think that I have been so busy teaching lessons, making YouTube videos, and running the school that I just forgot! That's what I am delighted today to introduce you to Yiqi - one of our IELTS success stories from China.
Yiqi was accepted onto a PhD course in the UK, but needed a 7.5 overall, with no less than 7.0 in writing. She found that the overall score was easy to achieve as she was able to hit a 9.0 in Reading and Listening, but after 4 attempts, she was still no closer to a 7.0 in Writing.
The interesting thing about Yiqi's story is her lack of confidence. From the moment she signed up to our Gold Writing Package, Yiqi was truly excellent. Every piece of writing she sent us was a 7.0 or higher, but for some reason, she remained nervous about taking the exam again. I am sure that this is something many of you can relate to - especially those who suffer from perfectionism.
The great news is that Yiqi was able to overcome her nerves and hit the ball out of the park on exam day, scoring a 7.5 in writing and finally reaching her target scores to gain entry to university. How did she do it? Well, you will need to listen to find out!
Useful Links
- Support the podcast and access BONUS episodes here - https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/patreon/
- Download my free ebook "An ex-examiner's guide to the Band IELTS Descriptors": https://mailchi.mp/myieltsclassroom/examiner-guide-to-ielts-band-descriptors
Million Dollar Agent - with Sandra Carder
How to SMASH that glass ceiling in any SALES field with life changing habits & tools
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Career Sweetspot
A Greenhouse Coaching podcast for career and leadership growth.
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Hey! A couple of weeks ago, Nick and I looked at how you should approach multiple multiple choice questions in IELTS listening. Today, I thought that we would look at the similar questions that appear in the reading exam - IELTS Reading Multiple Matching Questions.
These also ask you to select more than one correct answer from a list, but the technique that you will need to successfully complete them is different. In fact, as you will see in today's lesson, there are actually two different approaches that you should be prepared to use.
This is an interactive lesson - click here to download the reading activities.
In this episode, we will
- explain the basics of IELTS reading Multiple Multiple questions
- show you the two different approached you can use to find the answers
- complete a Cambridge Reading together to find the answers
Useful Links
- Support the podcast and access BONUS episodes here - https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/patreon/
- Download my free ebook "An ex-examiner's guide to the Band IELTS Descriptors": https://mailchi.mp/myieltsclassroom/examiner-guide-to-ielts-band-descriptors
Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
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In August, the new Cambridge IELTS 17 Academic book will be published. However, as always, the essay questions are already circulating on social media, so Nick and I thought that we would spend today analysing the four new essay questions to give you our ideas for each.
More importantly, we will spend time discussing how we would organise each of the essays, and why we think each one is difficult or easy (because there really is ONE easy question here!).
This is an interactive lesson, so make sure you spend at least 5 minutes generating ideas for each essay before you listen. You can find the questions here: https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/cambridge-ielts-17-academic/
Useful Links
- Support the podcast and access BONUS episodes here - https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/patreon/
- Download my free ebook "An ex-examiner's guide to the Band IELTS Descriptors": https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-examiner-ebook-mark/
- Watch the free video lessons on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiLz9Dbe4NEIu5OCy0WA1sg
Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.
Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:
- IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- IELTS Essay Corrections:https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
- IELTS Speaking lessons: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
- Free Podcast episodes: https://myieltsclassroom.buzzsprout.com
- Support the show by becoming a Patron: https://www.patreon.com/myieltsclassroom
The Mind of Medicine: A Different Healthcare Conversation
The Mind of Medicine podcast series explores the various organizational, social, and...
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Habit Masters
Take daily steps toward your biggest dreams by mastering the art of building habits.
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There are 13 points up for grabs in ELTS General Training Reading Part 2 and, as every text will focus on work or migration, a small amount of preparation can make a huge difference to the number of questions you can answer correctly (and the time it will take to do so).
Today, Nick and I discuss the language your should learn to maximise your potential in Part 2, and how you should approach two types of completion activities that are common in this section.
In the lesson, Nick and I complete an IELTS General Training Reading Part 2 from Cambridge 16. You can download the passages and the questions by clicking here.
Useful Links
- Join our next intensive reading course here - https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/reading
- Support the podcast and access BONUS episodes here - https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/patreon/
- Download my free ebook "An ex-examiner's guide to the Band IELTS Descriptors": https://mailchi.mp/myieltsclassroom/examiner-guide-to-ielts-band-descriptors
Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.
Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:
- IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- IELTS Essay Corrections: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
- IELTS Speaking lessons: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
- Free Podcast episodes: https://myieltsclassroom.buzzsprout.com
- Support the show by becoming a Patron: https://www.patreon.com/myieltsclassroom
The Orthopreneurs Podcast with Dr. Glenn Krieger
Whether you're an orthodontist, dentist or entrepreneur, this is a GREAT starting point.
Listen on: Apple Podcasts
FORGED BY TRUST
Learn the Skills to Forge Trust for Your Personal and Professional Life
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The Mind of Medicine: A Different Healthcare Conversation
The Mind of Medicine podcast series explores the various organizational, social, and...
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Hey! One complaint that IELTS test-takers have been making for decades is the order that the exams are taken on test-day. Starting with listening and ending with writing often means that students are tired when the attempt the most difficult (and often most important) section of the test.
This week IELTS announced that this is about to change for students taking the paper-based IELTS test. Yes! Finally, they are moving the writing paper to the start of the exam! Today, Nick and I discuss what this means for test-takers.
Plus, in celebration of this news, we will give you a chance to listen back to one of our episodes that is currently behind our Patron paywall: "Why are so many students stuck at a 6.5 for IELTS writing?".
Useful Links
- Download my free ebook "An ex-examiner's guide to the Band IELTS Descriptors": https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-examiner-ebook-mark/
- Watch the free video lessons on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiLz9Dbe4NEIu5OCy0WA1sg
- Support the podcast and access BONUS episodes here - https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/patreon/
Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.
Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:
- IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writi
The Orthopreneurs Podcast with Dr. Glenn Krieger
Whether you're an orthodontist, dentist or entrepreneur, this is a GREAT starting point.
Listen on: Apple Podcasts
FORGED BY TRUST
Learn the Skills to Forge Trust for Your Personal and Professional Life
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
The Mind of Medicine: A Different Healthcare Conversation
The Mind of Medicine podcast series explores the various organizational, social, and...
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
Habit Masters
Take daily steps toward your biggest dreams by mastering the art of building habits.
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The Science Pawdcast
The Science Pawdcast breaks down the latest science happening in the human world AND...
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In the IELTS listening exam, there are two types of multiple choice questions: those where you are given 3 possible answers and asked to choose ONE, and those where you are given 5 or 7 possible answers and are asked to choose TWO or THREE.
Today, we are going to look at the second type of question or, as I like to call them, IELTS listening multiple multiple choice questions. Many students are afraid of these questions, but as you will see in the episode, as long as you can follow our "two-step" method, you should be able to locate the answers without too much difficulty.
This is an interactive lesson, so please have a pen and paper ready so that you can partake, or find copies of the questions at https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-listening-multiple-multiple-choice
In this episode, we will
- explain the basics of IELTS Listening Multiple Multiple Choice questions
- show you the two steps you need to take to find the answers
- discuss the difference between these questions in Part 2 and Part 3
- highlight how IELTS uses "opposites" in this part of the test to hide the answers
Useful Links
- Support the podcast and access BONUS episodes here - https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/patreon/
- Read my blog post about Coherence and Cohesion: https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-coherence-cohesion/
- Download my free ebook "An ex-examiner's guide to the Band IELTS Descriptors": https://mailchi.mp/myieltsclassroom/examiner-guide-to-ielts-band-descriptors
Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.
Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:
- IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- IELTS Essay Corrections:https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/markin
The Orthopreneurs Podcast with Dr. Glenn Krieger
Whether you're an orthodontist, dentist or entrepreneur, this is a GREAT starting point.
Listen on: Apple Podcasts
Japanese Swotter - Speaking Drill + Shadowing
Are you leaning Japanese and looking for more opportunities to speak? This Podcast...
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Holly's Highlights
Designed to encourage, inspire & equip you to intentionally live your life full of purpose
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The role of any teacher is to help their students maximise the scores that they will get in an exam. However, over the years Nick and I have noticed that many teachers are giving their students advice for the IELTS speaking exam that could actually harm their scores not improve them.
Obviously, this is not intentional, but it can be difficult as an examiner watching a student put into practice the skills that they have been given by a teacher, knowing that they could have reached a higher score if they had just responded naturally to the questions.
So, in today's episode, join Nick and I to find out what the 5 worst pieces of advice for the IELTS speaking exam are, and how you can avoid them!
Useful Links
- Book a speaking test:https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/orders/complete_order?o=39842
- Download my free ebook "An ex-examiner's guide to the Band IELTS Descriptors": https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-examiner-ebook-mark/
- Watch the free video lessons on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiLz9Dbe4NEIu5OCy0WA1sg
- Support the podcast and access BONUS episodes here - https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/patreon/
Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.
Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:
- IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- IELTS Essay Corrections:https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
- IELTS Speaking lessons: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
- Free Podcast episodes: https://myieltsclassroom.buzzsprout.com
- Support the show by becoming a Patron: https://www.patreon.com/myieltsclassroom
The Orthopreneurs Podcast with Dr. Glenn Krieger
Whether you're an orthodontist, dentist or entrepreneur, this is a GREAT starting point.
Listen on: Apple Podcasts
Japanese Swotter - Speaking Drill + Shadowing
Are you leaning Japanese and looking for more opportunities to speak? This Podcast...
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
Support the show
At My IELTS Classroom, we take the emotional welfare of our students very seriously. In the past we have spoken to a trained psychologist about how test-takers can remain calm before and during their exam (and if you haven't watched that episode, I strongly recommend that you do as even I learned a lot!), and have written a lot of about motivation and how to get it back if you have lost it.
Today, though, we are going to look at what to do if you have lost IELTS confidence. You can read more about today's episode here: https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/lost-ielts-confidence/
Losing IELTS confidence can be difficult, but is every student really right to feel this way if they don't reach their target scores? And what can you do to regain your lost IELTS confidence? That is what Nick and I will discuss in this episode.
- Download my free ebook "An ex-examiner's guide to the Band IELTS Descriptors": https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-examiner-ebook-mark/
- Watch the free video lessons on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiLz9Dbe4NEIu5OCy0WA1sg
- Support the podcast and access BONUS episodes here - https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/patreon/
Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.
Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:
- IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- IELTS Essay Corrections:https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
- IELTS Speaking lessons: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
- Free Podcast episodes: https://myieltsclassroom.buzzsprout.com
- Support the show by becoming a Patron: https://www.patreon.com/myieltsclassroom
WikiListen
Explore Wikipedia in a daily podcast with Rachel Teichman, LMSW, and Victor Varnado.
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Women in Tech Podcast, "If She Can Do it, So Can I"
Inspiring women in tech share their stories on how they got to where they are today.
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Hey! Today Nick and I are continuing our "Let's do" series by completing a full IELTS speaking test . First, you will get a chance to answer the questions in a similar way to the real exam, and then you can listen on as Nick (our very own native speaker who is an ex-examiner) attempts the same test. That way you can listen to how the test is actually conducted and compare your answers to his.
Useful Links
- Book a speaking test: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/orders/complete_order?o=39842
- Download my free ebook "An ex-examiner's guide to the Band IELTS Descriptors": https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-examiner-ebook-mark/
- Watch the free video lessons on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiLz9Dbe4NEIu5OCy0WA1sg
- Support the podcast and access BONUS episodes here - https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/patreon/
Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.
Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:
- IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- IELTS Essay Corrections:https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
- IELTS Speaking lessons: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
- Free Podcast episodes: https://myieltsclassroom.buzzsprout.com
- Support the show by becoming a Patron: https://www.patreon.com/myieltsclassroom
Today, Nick and I look at the importance of learning IELTS lexis in context. We will start by analysing an Instagram post with synonyms for “highest” to show how the dictionary can definitely NOT be your friend.
Then, we will review a set of IELTS flash card from Educational Software Technologies Limited, and give our verdict on whether they are a good purchase for IELTS students or not. You can view and purchase the flashcards on this linkand remember to use the code SHELLY10 for a 10% discount.
Useful Links
- Support the podcast and access BONUS episodes here - https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/patreon/
- Download my free ebook "An ex-examiner's guide to the Band IELTS Descriptors": https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-examiner-ebook-mark/
- Watch the free video lessons on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiLz9Dbe4NEIu5OCy0WA1sg
- Find out more about learning lexis here: https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/learning-vocabulary-for-ielts/
Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.
Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:
- IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- IELTS Essay Corrections:https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
- IELTS Speaking lessons: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
- Free Podcast episodes: https://myieltsclassroom.buzzsprout.com
- Support the show by becoming a Patron: https://www.patreon.com/myieltsclassroom
Hey everyone! In a recent podcast, Nick and I completed an Academic reading passage from Cambridge 16 Test 4. Today, we thought that we would do the listening from the same test.
- Click here to download the questions for the lesson
Join us as we complete each section of the test. We will starting by outlining how we would approach each part and reminding you of the best way to approach each one.
Then, we will give you a chance to listen and answer the questions, before giving you our answers and discussing why some items were easy and others were difficult.
This is a great chance for you to put your listening skills into action!Useful Links
- Support the podcast and access BONUS episodes here - https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/patreon/
- Download my free ebook "An ex-examiner's guide to the Band IELTS Descriptors": https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-examiner-ebook-mark/
- Watch the free video lessons on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiLz9Dbe4NEIu5OCy0WA1sg
Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.
Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:
- IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- IELTS Essay Corrections:https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
- IELTS Speaking lessons: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
- Free Podcast episodes: https://myieltsclassroom.buzzsprout.com
- Support the show by becoming a Patron: https://www.patreon.com/myieltsclassroo
Hey! We all know that it can be hard to find the motivation to start studying for IELTS, which is why Nick and I have recorded so many episodes in the past about finding motivation. First, we did our 30-day motivation challenge, then we spoke about how to avoid procrastination in by eating those frogs, and last year we discovered a new way of self-studying by using metacognition.
Today, we return with Motivation May - a month where we try to fill you with motivation for all things IELTS. Today, we kick off by looking at different strategies that you can use to find motivation for your studies. We know that not everybody is the same, so you may find some of the them useful, and others unrealistic, but the hopefully all of our listeners will find ONE thing that they can use to dig deep and start studying harder this May!
If you are looking for free materials to start or continue your preparation, then why not look at the links in our free resources page.
Useful Links
- Support the podcast and access BONUS episodes here - https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/patreon/
- Download my free ebook "An ex-examiner's guide to the Band IELTS Descriptors": https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-examiner-ebook-mark/
- Watch the free video lessons on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiLz9Dbe4NEIu5OCy0WA1sg
Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.
Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:
- IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- IELTS Essay Corrections:https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
- IELTS Speaking lessons: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
- Free Podcast episodes: https://myieltsclassroom.buzzsprout.com
- Support the show by becoming a Patron: https://www.patreon.com/myieltsclassroo
Hey! Today Nick and I are trying a new style of lesson. Instead of giving you lots of information about one topic, we are going to break down one element of essay writing - how to write an introduction to an IELTS agree / disagree essay.
Join us to learn the three ingredients that you need to write an introduction well (they may not be what you expect) and how you can tackle questions that include "some people" or a background statement.
By the end of the short lesson, you should be able to write an introduction to any agree / disagree essay with ease, which should give you more time to tackle the body of the essay, which is where all of the points are to be gained.
You can read more about today's episode at: https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-agree-disagree-essay-introductions/
In this episode, we will explain
- how to write a sentence that clearly gives your opinion
- how to paraphrase accurately (including when you cannot paraphrase)
- three sentence structures that you can use to write your opening sentence
- look at agree / disagree sentences that start with "some people" and how that will affect your introduction
- discuss how you can use a background sentence in the prompt to open your introduction
Useful Links
- Support the podcast and access BONUS episodes here - https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/patreon/
- Download my free ebook "An ex-examiner's guide to the Band IELTS Descriptors": https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-examiner-ebook-mark/
- Watch the free video lessons on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiLz9Dbe4NEIu5OCy0WA1sg
Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.
Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:
- IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- IELTS Essay Corrections:https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
- IELTS Speaking lessons: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
- Free Podcast episodes: https://myieltsclassroom.buzzsprout.com
- Support the show by becoming a Patron: https://www.patreon.com/myieltsclassroom
Join Nick and I today as we go through the Cambridge IELTS Reading - Changes in Reading Habits from Cambridge 16, Test Four, Passage Two.
We will show you how to put the technique into action. First, we will explain how to analyse the questions before you read (which will be a nice revision of Multiple Choice and Summary Completion questions for those who have missed previous lessons). Then, we will move through every paragraph, answering all three sets of questions at the same time, explaining the answers as we go.
We will read excerpts from the passage in the podcast, but you will get more out of the lesson if you attempt the reading yourself first. You can find a copy of Cambridge IELTS Reading - Changes in Reading Habits onthis link.
Useful Links
- Support the podcast and access BONUS episodes here - https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/patreon/
- Download my free ebook "An ex-examiner's guide to the Band IELTS Descriptors": https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-examiner-ebook-mark/
- Watch the free video lessons on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiLz9Dbe4NEIu5OCy0WA1sg
Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.
Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:
- IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- IELTS Essay Corrections:https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
- IELTS Speaking lessons: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
- Free Podcast episodes: https://myieltsclassroom.buzzsprout.com
- Support the show by becoming a Patron: https://www.patreon.com/myieltsclassroom
One of the most common questions asked about IELTS writing is how you should present your opinion in an IELTS Discuss Both Views essay. Do you need to write a separate paragraph with your opinion? Can you wait until the conclusion to "reveal" your opinion? And what does it mean to offer "positive" arguments for each view? That is what Nick and I will discuss in today's episode.
You can read more about today's episode at: https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/how-should-you-present-your-opinion-in-an-ielts-discuss-both-views-essay/
In this episode, we will explain
- why you should NOT have a separate paragraph for your opinion
- why you should NOT wait until the conclusion to give your opinion
- why you should make sure that you discuss the two VIEWS and not the two TOPICS
Useful Links
- Support the podcast and access BONUS episodes here - https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/patreon/
- Download my free ebook "An ex-examiner's guide to the Band IELTS Descriptors": https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-examiner-ebook-mark/
- Watch the free video lessons on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiLz9Dbe4NEIu5OCy0WA1sg
Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.
Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:
- IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- IELTS Essay Corrections:https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
- IELTS Speaking lessons: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
- Free Podcast episodes: https://myieltsclassroom.buzzsprout.com
- Support the show by becoming a Patron: https://www.patreon.com/myieltsclassroom
One of the most useful sentence structures in your grammar toolkit should conditional sentences. But, how many types of conditional sentences are there, and where can they be used NATURALLY in your speaking and writing? That is what Nick and I look at today.
Useful Links
- Watch the first three lessons in our GT Task 1 Writing Course here: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/categories/general-training-writing-task-1
- Support the podcast and access BONUS episodes here - https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/patreon/
- Download my free ebook "An ex-examiner's guide to the Band IELTS Descriptors": https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-examiner-ebook-mark/
- Watch the free video lessons on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiLz9Dbe4NEIu5OCy0WA1sg
Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.
Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:
- IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- IELTS Essay Corrections:https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
- IELTS Speaking lessons: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
- Free Podcast episodes: https://myieltsclassroom.buzzsprout.com
- Support the show by becoming a Patron: https://www.patreon.com/myieltsclassroom
Preparing for IELTS can feel daunting with four modules to prepare for and seemingly endless amounts of information available online to "help" you do so. But, how long do you really need to prepare for IELTS? And what should you cover if you only have one month or two months to prepare? That is what Nick and I will discuss in this episode.
In this episode, we will
- talk about where to start your preparation if you are an absolute beginner
- discuss the amount of "noise" about IELTS there is online and how you can avoid listening to it
- give you the most important skills to focus on in reading, listening, writing and speaking if you have one month to prepare
- discuss what you could add if you have two months to prepare
- explain the advantage of learning in a course that is guided by a teacher
Useful Links
- Watch the first three lessons in our GT Task 1 Writing Course here: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/categories/general-training-writing-task-1
- Support the podcast and access BONUS episodes here - https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/patreon/
- Download my free ebook "An ex-examiner's guide to the Band IELTS Descriptors": https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-examiner-ebook-mark/
- Watch the free video lessons on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiLz9Dbe4NEIu5OCy0WA1sg
Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.
Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:
- IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- IELTS Essay Corrections:https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
- IELTS Speaking lessons: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
- Free Podcast episodes: https://myieltsclassroom.buzzsprout.com
- Support the show by becoming a Patron: https://www.patreon.com/myieltsclassroom
This week, Shelly is travelling in Brussels (drinking all the beer) so we thought we would have an easy episode this week and look at the Cambridge IELTS 16 essay questions.
A couple of weeks ago Nick and I looked at the letter questions from the new Cambridge 16 IELTS General Training book, and ranked the letter prompts from easiest to most difficult. Who can forget the letter to Mrs Barrett?!!!! Today we do the same with the essay questions in the book. Which is the easiest of the Cambridge IELTS 16 essay questions? Which is the most difficult? And which topics have never before been seen in the exam? Let's find out!
You can read more about today's episode at: https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/cambridge-ielts-16-essay-questions/
In this episode, we will
- rank each of the 4 essay prompts in Cambridge 16
- look at a technique you can use to approach Discuss Both Views questions
- discuss how to organise an essay with SIX components
- compare living in the 1990's to living with the dinosaurs!
Useful Links
- Watch the first three lessons in our GT Task 1 Writing Course here: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/categories/general-training-writing-task-1
- Support the podcast and access BONUS episodes here - https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/patreon/
- Download my free ebook "An ex-examiner's guide to the Band IELTS Descriptors": https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-examiner-ebook-mark/
- Watch the free video lessons on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiLz9Dbe4NEIu5OCy0WA1sg
Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.
Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:
- IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- IELTS Essay Corrections:https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
- IELTS Speaking lessons: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
- Free Podcast episodes: https://myieltsclassroom.buzzsprout.com
- Support the show by becoming a Patron: https://www.patreon.com/myieltsclassroom
One of the enduring problems for many IELTS test-takers is being able to use uncountable and plural nouns correctly. Today, Nick and I take a deep-dive into the common problems that IELTS test-takers make in their writing and speaking.
We will spend a lot of time discussing the definite article (the), so I strongly recommend that you watch our free grammar lesson so that you understand the 7 fundamental article rules. We have designed this lesson as an extension of the basics explained here as most problems with uncountable and plural nouns stem from a lack of understanding of basic article rules. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a10t3MHWWU0&t=1714s
You can read more about today's episode at: https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/uncountable-and-plural-nouns/
In this episode, we will
- go through the basic rules of using the three articles to reveal the most common basic errors with plurals and uncountable nouns
- look at 16 nouns to see discuss they are countable or uncountable
- explain quantifiers and discuss which can be used with countable or uncountable nouns
- examine why so many students add "the" before a plural noun when it is not needed
- discuss which nouns should always be used with "the" and which should not
- Support the podcast and access BONUS episodes here - https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/patreon/
- Watch the first three lessons in my IELTS grammar course for free: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/categories/grammar
- Download my free ebook "An ex-examiner's guide to the Band IELTS Descriptors": https://mailchi.mp/myieltsclassroom/examiner-guide-to-ielts-band-descriptors
Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.
Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:
- IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- IELTS Essay Corrections:https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
- IELTS Speaking lessons: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
- Free Podcast episodes: https://myieltsclassroom.buzzsprout.com
- Support the show by becoming a Patron: https://www.patreon.com/myieltsclassroom
Hey! In IELTS reading matching sentence endings is a strange question type. At first glance, they can seem simple. After all, your only task is to match the start of a sentence with its correct end. And, as all of the possible endings are given to you, the challenge seems minimal.
However, as we will see today, matching sentence endings question are unique as they rarely contain clear scaling words. This makes them unique as they are both "slow" (because identifying the sentence that contains the answer can be difficult) and "quick" (because once you find the sentence, locating the answer should be easy).
The key to finding the sentences is reading for meaning, which is what we will teach you in today's episode!
You can find out more about today's lesson at https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-reading-matching-sentence-endings/
In this episode, we will:
- look at the basics of matching sentence endings questions
- examine how the question has changed over the last few years
- explain why you cannot use skimming or scaling to tackle the questions
- answer a set of questions from Cambridge 14 while demonstrating what happens in the mind of a reader who is interacting with a text
Useful Links
- Join our next 5-day intensive reading course: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/reading
- Read my blog post about True, False Not Given questions - http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/true-false-not-given-the-basics/
- Still can't find the answer? Take a deeper dive into the world of True False Not Given questions http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-true-false-not-given-i-understand-the-technique-so-why-cant-i-find-the-correct-answers/
- Download my free ebook "An ex-examiner's guide to the Band IELTS Descriptors": https://mailchi.mp/myieltsclassroom/examiner-guide-to-ielts-band-descriptors
Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.
Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:
- IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- IELTS Essay Corrections:https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
- IELTS Speaking lessons: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
- Free Podcast episodes: https://myieltsclassroom.buzzsprout.com
I repeat the YouTube channel is live! Yes, this is just a short reminder that from 7am GMT today, you will be able to watch 8 My IELTS Classrooms lessons for free on our YouTube channel. Just click here - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiLz9Dbe4NEIu5OCy0WA1sg
Plus, we will be releasing a video every day in the coming week, including 3 that have only ever been available to my paying subscribers.
Then, from March 25th, we will be releasing totally new weekly content every Friday!!!
If you are a fan of the podcast, I promise that you will love the video lessons. Plus, every view and subscription will be helping Nick and I spread the word about My IELTS Classroom.
So, what are you waiting for? Click on the link and go starting studying with us face to face!
Hey everybody. This week Nick and I have a huge announcement to make. Can you guess what it is? No, we are not getting married (don't worry Nick), but we are finally launching our YouTube channel. Join us today to find out what content we plan to release. Plus, Shelly will share the techniques she used to get over her mental block over the channel - I mean, she has been promising to launch for 3 years, so what changed in the last few weeks?
You can sign up the channel on this link. The first lessons will drop at 7am on Friday March 11th. If you enjoy the podcast, then this is your chance to support Nick and Shelly as they take a big step forward in growing My IELTS Classroom.
You can read more about today's episode and watch the preview of the new channel at https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/my-ielts-classroom-youtube/
Useful Links
- Support the podcast and access BONUS episodes here - https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/patreon/
- Download my free ebook "An ex-examiner's guide to the Band IELTS Descriptors": https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-examiner-ebook-mark/
Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.
Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:
- IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- IELTS Essay Corrections:https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
- IELTS Speaking lessons: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
- Free Podcast episodes: https://myieltsclassroom.buzzsprout.com
- Support the show by becoming a Patron: https://www.patreon.com/myieltsclassroom
In recent weeks, Nick and I have spent a lot of time talking about Academic Writing Task 1, so we thought that today it was time that we gave some love to our General Training students!
Join us as we rank the four prompts in the new Cambridge IELTS 16 in order of difficulty from easiest to most challenging. Trust me, the Cambridge IELTS 16 letters are NOT the same as previous Cambridge books! The letter to Mrs Barrett is worth the price on its own!
You can read more about today's episode at: https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/cambridge-ielts-16-letters/
In this episode, we will
- rank each of the 4 letter prompts in Cambridge 16
- look at what makes each of the letter prompts easy or difficult
- share useful lexis for some of the more challenging bullet points
- give you simple sentence structures that you can use to make your letter sound more natural
Useful Links
- Watch the first three lessons in our GT Task 1 Writing Course here: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/categories/general-training-writing-task-1
- Support the podcast and access BONUS episodes here - https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/patreon/
- Download my free ebook "An ex-examiner's guide to the Band IELTS Descriptors": https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-examiner-ebook-mark/
Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.
Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:
- IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- IELTS Essay Corrections:https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
- IELTS Speaking lessons: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
- Free Podcast episodes: https://myieltsclassroom.buzzsprout.com
- Support the show by becoming a Patron: https://www.patreon.com/myieltsclassroom
Hey! This week, Nick and I look at how you should tackle IELTS Object Cue Cards, which are one of the most common in Part 2 of the exam. We will start with a brief review of IELTS Speaking Part 2(as it has been along time since we did a speaking episode!), and then share a range of useful lexis to describe objects. Finally, we will demonstrate how you can put all of these skills together by completing one 2-minute turn each.
You can read more about today's episode at: https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-object-cue-cards/
In the episode, we will
- go through the basics of IELTS Speaking Part 2
- give you BUCKETS of lexis that you can use to describe any object for your cue card
- demonstrate how you can use the lexis by completing a cue card each
Useful Links
- Join our next intensive speaking course: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Introduction to IELTS Speaking: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/introduction-to-ielts-speaking/
- How long should you speak for in Part 1? http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/how-long-talk-ielts-speaking-part-1/
- When IELTS Speaking Part 1 becomes strange: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/when-ielts-speaking-part-1-gets-strange/
Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.
Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:
- IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- IELTS Essay Corrections: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
- IELTS Speaking lessons: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
- Free Podcast episodes: https://myieltsclassroom.buzzsprout.com
Today, Nick and I continue our series on writing both paragraphs by looking at how to write IELTS paragraphs that contain just one idea. We will look at the different language blocks that you can use to build your paragraphs, the different sentence structures that are often used in each block, and the importance of progression. In other words, we will show you everything you need to write these paragraphs well!
You can read more about today's episode at:
https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-paragraph-writing/
In this episode, we will
- look at the building blocks that you can use to build your paragraphs
- explain the importance of progression in essay writing
- give you specific examples of how to plan paragraphs that progress
- show you the sentence structures that you can use to naturally build your paragraphs
Useful Links
- Listen to the first episode in this short series: https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-paragraph/
- Support the podcast and access BONUS episodes here - https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/patreon/
- Read my blog post about Coherence and Cohesion: https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-coherence-cohesion/
- Download my free ebook "An ex-examiner's guide to the Band IELTS Descriptors": https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-examiner-ebook-mark/
Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.
Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:
- IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- IELTS Essay Corrections:https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
- IELTS Speaking lessons: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
- Free Podcast episodes: https://myieltsclassroom.buzzsprout.com
- Support the show by becoming a Patron: https://www.patreon.com/myieltsclassroom
I think that being able to construct a paragraph is the most fundamental IELTS writing skill. If you are able to start with a clear topic sentence and then build a logical argument, you are almost guaranteed a high score for Task Response and Coherence (and you have a good chance of a high one for Coherence and Cohesion too!)
Today, Nick and I start with the basic question "What is a paragraph?" and end by showing you how being specific in your arguments can increase your score. However, there is a lot in between!
You can read more about today's episode at: https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-paragraph/
In this episode, we will
- look at the basic elements of a paragraph
- explain the importance of unity in essay writing
- talk about the two types of topic sentence
- show you the sentence that most students miss when they are writing a body paragraph
- look in detail at how you can extend your ideas in a paragraph that contains two ideas
- discuss the importance of having specific ideas if you want a very high score
Useful Links
- Support the podcast and access BONUS episodes here - https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/patreon/
- Read my blog post about Coherence and Cohesion: https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-coherence-cohesion/
- Download my free ebook "An ex-examiner's guide to the Band IELTS Descriptors": https://mailchi.mp/myieltsclassroom/examiner-guide-to-ielts-band-descriptors
Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.
Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:
- IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- IELTS Essay Corrections:https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
- IELTS Speaking lessons: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
- Free Podcast episodes: https://myieltsclassroom.buzzsprout.com
- Support the show by becoming a Patron: https://www.patreon.com/myieltsclassroom
Hey! There are always times in life when things don't go as planned. You buy a wardrobe and think it will take an hour to put together, but it takes 10. Or you have a lovely week planned and then you unexpectedly have your wisdom tooth removed! But what happens if things do not go as planned in the IELTS exam? When should you complain? And, more importantly, how can you make an IELTS complaint? That is what Nick and I discuss today.
You can also listen to today's episode on our blog - https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-complaint/
In this episode, we will:
- give you some new and important information about applying for a breakdown of results from IDP
- read a listener's query about what is the correct procedure in an IELTS speaking test
- outline whe n you should (and shouldn't) make an IELTS complaint
- You can find the template for asking for a breakdown of your scores here: :https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-exam-results/
- Download my free ebook "An ex-examiner's guide to the Band IELTS Descriptors": https://mailchi.mp/myieltsclassroom/examiner-guide-to-ielts-band-descriptors
Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.
Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:
- IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- IELTS Essay Corrections:https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
- IELTS Speaking lessons: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
- Free Podcast episodes: https://myieltsclassroom.buzzsprout.com
Can you here the trumpets playing? Yes, back by popular demand, today Nick and I break down the first IELTS essay questions 2022. As always, we will choose 6 essay topics that have been reported from recent exams that we think are difficult, and offer you our arguments and tips for organisation. You are welcome to sit and passively enjoy the episode, but you will get a lot more out of the lesson if you actively take part.
This is an interactive lesson, so please go to our episode page to read and generate ideas for each of the questions before you listen: https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-essay-questions-2022/
In this episode, we will discuss the following questions
- Some people think that schools should select students according to their academic abilities. Others believe that it is better to have students with different abilities studying together. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
- Governments should give a basic income every to citizen, whether they are employed or not, so that they have enough money to live on. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
- Studies have shown that many criminals have a lack of education. Therefore, some believe that the best way to reduce crime is to educate prisoners so that they can find work after they are released. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?
- Some people think that enjoying the present is more important than planning for the future. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
- More and more people say that they do not feel safe when leave home. Why is this? What could be done to address this issue?
- Information technology is changing many aspects of our lives and now dominates our home, leisure, and work activities. Do the benefits of information technology outweigh the disadvantages?
Useful Links
- Learn more about brainstorming ideas - http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/how-can-you-think-of-ideas-for-your-ielts-essay/
- Download our free guide to the band descriptors here - https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-examiner-ebook/
Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.
Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:
- IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- IELTS Essay Corrections: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
- IELTS Speaking lessons: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
In 2020, Nick and I recorded an episode of the podcast that gave you a complete fail-prof system for tackling any type of IELTS line graph. You can listen to that episode here.
We went through the basics, such as the vocabulary you need to describe changes and how to organise your paragraphs, to more complex advice such as how to find key features and write your specific details from start to finish. Plus, we also looked at a new type of key feature that IELTS had recently started using and no other teacher was talking about. In other words, I felt like we had recorded the ultimate guide to IELTS line graphs, and we would never have to talk about them again. Then came the IELTS line graph 2021!
Yes, in Cambridge 15, I noticed that IELTS had subtly introduced a new type of line graph. It wasn't obvious at first, but the came another similar chart in Cambridge 16, and suddenly I realised that a whole new system was needed to tackle this new type of chart well. That is what we are going to show you today!
This is an interactive lesson, so make sure you have this webpage open as you listen so you can see the charts and follow the class - https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-line-graph-2021/
In this episode, we will
- review the old "system" for line graphs (which still works perfectly well for 99% of charts)
- show you how the new IELTS line graphs in 2021 are different
- explain why you need a diferent approach to answer them well
Useful Links
- Watch the first three lessons in my Academic Task 1 video course: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/categories/academic-writing-task-1
- Download my free ebook "An ex-examiner's guide to the Band IELTS Descriptors": https://mailchi.mp/myieltsclassroom/examiner-guide-to-ielts-band-descriptors
- Listen to our similar lesson for line graphs: https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-line-graphs/
Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.
Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:
- IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- IELTS Essay Corrections:https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
- IELTS Speaking lessons: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
- Free Podcast episodes: https://myieltsclassroom.buzzsprout.com
We all have topics that we are familiar with in IELTS . But, there are also other topics which we may meet with a blank mind. So, what can you do to feel your knowledge gaps. In today’s episode Nick and I will look at a difficult topic for us – housing.
We will start by covering some fundamental vocabulary and then, show you how you can utilise Google to find essay ideas. Plus, this will give us a chance to see indirect vocabulary learning in action. Hopefully, by the end of the lesson, you will understand why this is a much better method than searching for model essays.
You can read more about today's episode at: https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-architecture-vocabulary/
In this episode, we will
- give you some basic architecture lexis
- show you how to search for essay ideas online
- explain how you can find good collocations and topic specific lexis while searching for ideas
Support the podcast and access BONUS episodes here - https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/patreon/
Useful Links
- Download my free ebook "An ex-examiner's guide to the Band IELTS Descriptors": https://mailchi.mp/myieltsclassroom/examiner-guide-to-ielts-band-descriptors
- Learn more about learning lexis here: https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/learning-vocabulary-for-ielts/
Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.
Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:
- IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- IELTS Essay Corrections:https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
- IELTS Speaking lessons: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
- Free Podcast episodes: https://myieltsclassroom.buzzsprout.com
- Support the show by becoming a Patron: https://www.patreon.com/myieltsclassroom
In IELTS Writing Task One, you will be asked to write a report based on a chart. These can come in a number of forms. You may be given a line graph, a pie chart, a bar chart, or even a map or a process. However, one chart that strikes fear into the heart of most students is the dreaded table.
Tables can be confusing as they can contain an overwhelming amount of data and it is not always clear what key features need to be included in the overview. However, in today’s episode, Nick and I will show you a simple strategy that will help you tackle any type of table with confidence.
This is an interactive lesson, so make sure you have this webpage open as you listen so you can see the charts and follow the class - https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-table/
In this episode, you will learn:
- teach you how to find the key features for a change chart table and a compare chart table using three comparison points (time, category, and item)
- explain how you can divide items into your own categories
- show you how to group items correctly if you have a lot of data to cover in your report
Useful Links
- Watch the first three lessons in my Academic Task 1 video course: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/categories/academic-writing-task-1
- Download my free ebook "An ex-examiner's guide to the Band IELTS Descriptors": https://mailchi.mp/myieltsclassroom/examiner-guide-to-ielts-band-descriptors
- Listen to our similar lesson for line graphs: https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-line-graphs/
Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.
Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:
- IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- IELTS Essay Corrections:https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
- IELTS Speaking lessons: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
- Free Podcast episodes: https://myieltsclassroom.buzzsprout.com
Hey! As the year draws to an end, it is time to sit back and reflect on what 2021 brought for IELTS test-takers. Obviously, there have been difficulties. Many test centres around the world have remained closed thanks to COVID, and migration programmes, particularly express entry into Canada, have been hit hard.
However, despite the havoc caused by the pandemic, this has been the most successful year to date here at My IELTS Classroom. Our podcast has grown significantly, with more that twice as many listeners tuning in each week in December as there was in January.
Today, Nick and I look back at 2021 to discuss what we feel were the highs and lost for test-takers.
In this episode, we will discuss
- The best and worst Speaking Part One questions in 2021
- The best and worst Speaking Cue Card questions in 2021
- The best and worst IELTS essay questions in 2021
- The best My IELTS Classroom podcast episodes in 2021
- Our predictions for what lies ahead in IELTS 2022
Support the podcast and access BONUS episodes here - https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/patreon Download my free ebook "An ex-examiner's guide to the Band IELTS Descriptors": https://mailchi.mp/myieltsclassroom/examiner-guide-to-ielts-band-descriptors
Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.
Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:
- IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- IELTS Essay Corrections:https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
- IELTS Speaking lessons: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
- Free Podcast episodes: https://myieltsclassroom.buzzsprout.com
- Support the show by becoming a Patron: https://www.patreon.com/myieltsclassroom
Yes - it is time for our annual Christmas episode! This year, I have taken some of my favourite Christmas games and adapted them to test your knowledge of IЕLTS. It is nothing too serious, so if your test is soon and you are looking for some genuine lessons, you can access over 100 in our archive here.
However, it is good to sometimes let your hair down. It has been a long year. COVID is still causing havoc with tests and, as a result, migrating or studying abroad is still far more complicated than it should be. Today, we try to counter that slightly but offering a brief window of fun.
You can read more about today's episode at: https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/iеlts-christmas-quiz-2021/
Useful Links
- If you are just starting IELTS, then follow our free starters' guide: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/start-preparing-for-ielts/
- Struggling with writing? The sign up for one of our video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/catalog
- Download my free ebook - An ex-examiner's guide to the IELTS Band Descriptors: https://mailchi.mp/myieltsclassroom/examiner-guide-to-ielts-band-descriptors
Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.
Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:
- IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- IELTS Essay Corrections:https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
- IELTS Speaking lessons: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
- Free Podcast episodes: https://myieltsclassroom.buzzsprout.com
Do you have enough topic specific vocabulary to discuss the essay topics in depth. Can you follow the listening or reading passages easily? Can you discuss the abstract topics in Speaking Part 3with ease? If the answer to any of these questions is no, then you are probably interested in upgrading your vocabulary.
However, what is the best way to learn new lexis? And how much can you realistically learn in one month, or two, or six? That is what Nick and I will be discussing on this week's podcast! Join us as we combine our experience teaching with the results of academic research to make learning vocabulary for IELTS as easy for you as we can.
You can read more about today's episode at: https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/learning-vocabulary-for-ielts/
In this episode, we will
- look at common reasons why some words are more difficult to learn than others
- discuss the role of translation in learning lexis
- explain the direct and indirect methods of learning lexis
- give clear examples of how you can use flashcards effectively
Support the podcast and access BONUS episodes here - https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/patreon/
Download my free ebook "An ex-examiner's guide to the Band IELTS Descriptors": https://mailchi.mp/myieltsclassroom/examiner-guide-to-ielts-band-descriptors
Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.
Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:
- IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- IELTS Essay Corrections:https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
- IELTS Speaking lessons: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
- Free Podcast episodes: https://myieltsclassroom.buzzsprout.com
- Support the show by becoming a Patron: https://www.patreon.com/myieltsclassroom
In today’s podcast, Nick and I are going to interview two of our new teachers, Kristina and Tanya, about their experience teaching metacognition for IELTS learners. This is a technique that I was introduced to only recently, but one which I think has the potential to transform the way many students prepare for IELTS (and, indeed, learn throughout their lives)I am really very excited to be sharing this episode today, but I also know that metacognition may be a new concept for many listeners, so I have written a short introduction to help you become familiar with the subject before you listen to the interview. You can read the introduction here: https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/metacognition-for-ielts-learners/
I promise you, no single episode of the My IELTS Classroom Podcast has the potential to change the way you learn as much as this one, so it really is worth taking the time to gather some background information before you press play to understand the importance of metacognition for IELTS learners.
In this episode, we will
- Introduce the concept of metacognition
- interview Kristina and Tanya about their experience using metacognition in class
- Introduce you to three simple techniques that will get you using metacognition today
Support the podcast and access BONUS episodes here - https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/patreon/
Download my free ebook "An ex-examiner's guide to the Band IELTS Descriptors": https://mailchi.mp/myieltsclassroom/examiner-guide-to-ielts-band-descriptors
Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.
Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:
- IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- IELTS Essay Corrections:https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
- IELTS Speaking lessons: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
- Free Podcast episodes: https://myieltsclassroom.buzzsprout.com
- Support the show by becoming a Patron: https://www.patreon.com/myieltsclassroom
Last week Nick and I looked at how effective video courses can be. The answer was "very" but only if you are actually actively partaking in the course. What we didn't discuss though is how you can make sure that your online course is actually guiding you in the right direction. Thanks to COVID, it seems like hundreds of now courses have sprung up overnight, which makes it hard than ever for students to choose a good.
Today, we will look at some simple questions you can ask yourself before signing up to IELTS course to make sure that you are using your time and money wisely.
Support the podcast and access BONUS episodes here - https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/patreon/
Download my free ebook "An ex-examiner's guide to the Band IELTS Descriptors": https://mailchi.mp/myieltsclassroom/examiner-guide-to-ielts-band-descriptors
Rate and review My IELTS ClassroomIf you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.
Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:
- IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- IELTS Essay Corrections:https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
- IELTS Speaking lessons: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
- Free Podcast episodes: https://myieltsclassroom.buzzsprout.com
- Support the show by becoming a Patron: https://www.patreon.com/myieltsclassroom
Never before has IELTS students had so much free material to learn from. But is having so many free IELTS videos, really helping students to prepare for the test in the best way or could thy actually be having a detrimental effect on some students' preparation? Today, Nick and I discus the dangers of watching IELTS videos and give clear advice about how to make the most of online content.
You can read more about today's episode at: https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-videos
In this episode, we will look at how IELTS videos
- can give you a sense of over-confidence
- can lead you to practice less instead of more
- can make you think that they exam is easier than it is
Support the podcast and access BONUS episodes here - https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/patreon/
Download my free ebook "An ex-examiner's guide to the Band IELTS Descriptors": https://mailchi.mp/myieltsclassroom/examiner-guide-to-ielts-band-descriptors
Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.
Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:
- IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- IELTS Essay Corrections:https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
- IELTS Speaking lessons: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
- Free Podcast episodes: https://myieltsclassroom.buzzsprout.com
- Support the show by becoming a Patron: https://www.patreon.com/myieltsclassroom
Every week I get questions from students asking how they can generate good ideas for essays. Usually, my advice starts from the point of thinking of ideas, but this week I realised that many students are skipping a vital step before that - analysing the question to make sure that their arguments100% address the question given. This is a mistake!
Today, Nick and I look at 6 common types of question that are often misinterpreted by students. We will show you what he words are that signal these questions and the ramification that has for the ideas that you will brainstorm. After all, if you don't understand the question correctly, there is a high chance you will go in completely the wrong direction and end up with a 6.0 for Task Response.
You can read more about today's episode at: https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/analysing-ielts-essay-questions/
In this episode, we will
- look at 6 common key words in questions that students often overlook and which can affect your score for Task Response
Support the podcast and access BONUS episodes here - https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/patreon/
Download my free ebook "An ex-examiner's guide to the Band IELTS Descriptors": https://mailchi.mp/myieltsclassroom/examiner-guide-to-ielts-band-descriptors
Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.
Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:
- IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- IELTS Essay Corrections:https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
- IELTS Speaking lessons: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
- Free Podcast episodes: https://myieltsclassroom.buzzsprout.com
- Support the show by becoming a Patron: https://www.patreon.com/myieltsclassroom
Using inversion in IELTS writing can definitely improve your GRA score, but many students make basic errors when forming these sentences, and even more struggle to use them in the appropriate context. Join Nick and I today to find out how to make 5 types of inversion sentence and how and when to use them in the IELTS exam.
You can read more about today's episode at: https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/inversion-ielts-writing/
In this episode, we will
- go through the basics of question forming so you have the foundation to start using inversion
- explain how to form sentence that start with "not only"
- look at 5 other types of inversion to show you how to make them and when to use them
Support the podcast and access BONUS episodes here - https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/patreon/
Download my free ebook "An ex-examiner's guide to the Band IELTS Descriptors": https://mailchi.mp/myieltsclassroom/examiner-guide-to-ielts-band-descriptors
Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.
Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:
- IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- IELTS Essay Corrections:https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
- IELTS Speaking lessons: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
- Free Podcast episodes: https://myieltsclassroom.buzzsprout.com
- Support the show by becoming a Patron: https://www.patreon.com/myieltsclassroom
You put down your pen. The essay and report / letter are written. Yes! But there are still 3 or 4 minutes left on the exam clock What do you do in this time? The temptation may be to read through your essay from start to finish to check for errors, but is this really the most efficient way to find your errors? And which mistakes should you actively be looking for? Find out today as Nick and I talk IELTS error correction!
You can read more about today's episode at: https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-error-correction/
In this episode, we will
- explain what you should NOT be checking in the final 5 minutes
- provide you a list of common grammar errors that can be easily fixed in the final 2 minutes
- show you a technique to help you identity errors more easily
Support the podcast and access BONUS episodes here - https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/patreon/
Download my free ebook "An ex-examiner's guide to the Band IELTS Descriptors": https://mailchi.mp/myieltsclassroom/examiner-guide-to-ielts-band-descriptors
Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.
Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:
- IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- IELTS Essay Corrections:https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
- IELTS Speaking lessons: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
- Free Podcast episodes: https://myieltsclassroom.buzzsprout.com
- Support the show by becoming a Patron: https://www.patreon.com/myieltsclassroom
Today, Nick and I review the Duolingo English Test. We will explain what the test is, which students it might benefit, and then compete a practice version of the test to discuss how it works. Then, you can make the decision if this is the right test for you, or if you should stick to IELTS or TOEFL.
You can read more about today's episode at:https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/duolingo-english-test-review/
In this episode, we will discuss
- what the Duolingo Test is and why you may want to sit it
- the basic facts about the test (length, cost, etc)]
- and then complete a practice test together before giving our final verdict
Support the podcast and access BONUS episodes here - https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/patreon/
Download my free ebook "An ex-examiner's guide to the Band IELTS Descriptors": https://mailchi.mp/myieltsclassroom/examiner-guide-to-ielts-band-descriptors
Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.
Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:
- IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- IELTS Essay Corrections:https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
- IELTS Speaking lessons: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
- Free Podcast episodes: https://myieltsclassroom.buzzsprout.com
- Support the show by becoming a Patron: https://www.patreon.com/myieltsclassroom
You can guarantee that some point during your IELTS exam, you will need to demonstrate that you can make good comparisons. Interestingly, although the language of comparison is introduced at an Elementary level in most English course books, this is something that many high-level students still struggle with. Today, Nick and describe 4 ways that you can make comparisons in IELTS compare essays, and then show how the same techniques can be used to good effect in the speaking test (which Nick giving a masterful demonstration of how to answer some Part 3 questions)!
You can read more about today's episode at: https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-compare-essays/
In this episode, we will discuss the following questions
- explain when you may need to compare in your IELTS exam
- show you how to use "whereas", "while" and "in contrast" to make comparisons
- introduce you to making comparisons with "unlike"
- refresh your memory of using comparative adjectives (and look at 3 ways you can go wrong when doing so)
- discuss how to use "as + adjective + as" comparisons
- answer 7 Speaking Part 3 questions that ask you to compare
Support the podcast and access BONUS episodes here - https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/patreon/
Useful Links
- Download my free ebook "An ex-examiner's guide to the Band IELTS Descriptors": https://mailchi.mp/myieltsclassroom/examiner-guide-to-ielts-band-descriptors
- Watch my free video lesson "Three Types of Comparison" https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/programs/three-types-of-contrast
Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.
Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:
- IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- IELTS Essay Corrections:https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
- IELTS Speaking lessons: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
- Free Podcast episodes: https://myieltsclassroom.buzzsprout.com
- Support the show by becoming a Patron: https://www.patreon.com/myieltsclassroom
From 2022 IELTS test-takers around the world will have the opportunity to take a secure version of the test at home in a new product called IELTS Online. What does that mean for you and your IELTS journey?
Plus Nick and I have a big annoucement about the future of the podcast ......
- You can find out more about IELTS Online here: https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-online-2022/
- And more about our new Patreon here - https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/patreon/
- Download my free ebook "An ex-examiner's guide to the Band IELTS Descriptors": https://mailchi.mp/myieltsclassroom/examiner-guide-to-ielts-band-descriptors
Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.
Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:
- IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- IELTS Essay Corrections:https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
- IELTS Speaking lessons: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
- Free Podcast episodes: https://myieltsclassroom.buzzsprout.com
- Support the show by becoming a Patron: https://www.patreon.com/myieltsclassroom
Do you struggle with IELTS reading time management? Do you use scanning and skimming but still find that you run out of time? Do you find some types of question very difficult and can never find the right answer (particularly headings match, MCQ's and information match)? Is your neck sore by the end of the exam from looking back and forth and back and forth from the questions to the passage and back again? Well, this is the podcast episode for you!
About a year ago, I realised that the way IELTS teachers teach reading is the not the way that they actually read themselves. From that day forward, I totally revolutionised the way that I teach reading. It didn't happen overnight, but within a few months, I had advised a system that I christened "Read Once, Read Well".
A system that I have found not only helps students improve their score (because they are actually reading now and understanding the passage) but also makes it much easier to finish the exam on time. So, if you think that IELTS reading time management is a problem for you, why not give it a go?
You can find out more about today's lesson at https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/?p=5626&preview=true
In this episode, we will:
- complete a quick quiz about the reading exam
- discuss the limitations of scanning and skimming
- introduce you to quick questions and slow questions
- explain the Read Once, Read Well method
- give you examples of how it works
Useful Links
- Join our next 5-day intensive reading course: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/reading
- Read my blog post about True, False Not Given questions - http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/true-false-not-given-the-basics/
- Still can't find the answer? Take a deeper dive into the world of True False Not Given questions http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-true-false-not-given-i-understand-the-technique-so-why-cant-i-find-the-correct-answers/
- Download my free ebook "An ex-examiner's guide to the Band IELTS Descriptors": https://mailchi.mp/myieltsclassroom/examiner-guide-to-ielts-band-descriptors
Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.
Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:
- IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- IELTS Essay Corrections:https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
- IELTS Speaking lessons: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
- Free Podcast episodes: https://myieltsclassroom.buzzsprout.com
IELTS Summary Completion questions may be my favourite type of question in the IELTS exam. They are quick and often relatively easy to answer and give you the opportunity of grabbing 3 or 4 quick points in a the space of one short paragraph. If you compare that to Multiple Choice or Headings Match questions, which can require you to read and interpret an entire paragraph for just one point, you can see why I like them so much!
Today, Nick and I look at the two types of IELTS Summary Completion questions to show you how the writers "hide" the answers and how you can use this to help you find them. If you have ever wanted to see inside the horror of an english exam writer' mind, then this is the episode for you!
This is an interactive lesson, so please download the questions here before you start the episode: https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-summary-completion-questions/
In this episode, we will:
- explain the 5 types of IELTS completion questions
- look the basic rules for answer any completion question (number of words, type of word, etc)
- explain the difference between the two types of summary completion questions
- show you the process that exam writers go through in order to create summary completion questions
- describe the best way to approach these questions
- tackle two summary questions from the Cambridge books
Support the show by becoming a Patron: https://www.patreon.com/myieltsclassroom
Useful Links
- Join our next 5-day intensive reading course: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/reading
- Read my blog post about True, False Not Given questions - http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/true-false-not-given-the-basics/
- Still can't find the answer? Take a deeper dive into the world of True False Not Given questions http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-true-false-not-given-i-understand-the-technique-so-why-cant-i-find-the-correct-answers/
- Download my free ebook "An ex-examiner's guide to the Band IELTS Descriptors": https://mailchi.mp/myieltsclassroom/examiner-guide-to-ielts-band-descriptors
Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.
Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:
- IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- IELTS Essay Corrections:https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
- IELTS Speaking lessons: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
- Free Podcast episodes: https://myieltsclassroom.buzzsprout.com
This week, I updated my recent IELTS letters blog post to show 20 prompts that have been given in exams this year. Today, Nick and I discuss 6 of those semi-formal questions in detail to look at what how you can decide the correct tone for your letter. You see, like formal and informal letters that have a fixed tone, semi-formal letters can swing between very formal and very informal depending on the topic of the letter. Find out how to get it right with us today.
You can find out more about today's lesson at https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-semi-formal-letters/
In this episode, we will
- tell you our news for the week (we have a lot!)
- go through the differences between informal and formal letters
- discuss 6 semi-informal letter prompts from 2021 to show you that it is not WHO you are writing to that determines the tone, but what you are writing about
Useful Links
- Watch the first three lessons in my General Training Task 1 video course: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/categories/general-training-writing-task-1
- Find out more about how we can help you achieve CLB9 or 10 to move to Canada: https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/canada-reopens/
- Download my free ebook "An ex-examiner's guide to the Band IELTS Descriptors": https://mailchi.mp/myieltsclassroom/examiner-guide-to-ielts-band-descriptors
Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.
Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:
- IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- IELTS Essay Corrections:https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
- IELTS Speaking lessons: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
- Free Podcast episodes: https://myieltsclassroom.buzzsprout.com
Before we start today's show, a quick shameless pieces of advertising for our courses. September means the start of a new school year for those living in the northern hemisphere, and for many adults, the month when they want to make a fresh start on a hobby or study. If you feel that it is time to start studying IELTS seriously or to renew your efforts, then why not come and join one of our IELTS packages? You can find out more about the courses here - www.myieltsclassroom.com
Right, back to the episode! Today, Nick and I look at six more essay topics that have been reported from the IELTS tests in 2021. We will breakdown each question to explain what makes it tricky and how you can approach it best.
This is an interactive lesson, so please go to our episode page to read and generate ideas for each of the questions before you listen: https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-essay-questions-from-2021/
In this episode, we will discuss the following questions
- Some people think that criminal behaviour has genetic causes. Others argue that it is circumstances that lead people to commit a crime. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
- Some people believe that women should be able to join their country’s army and police forces. Others believe that only men should be allowed to work in these areas. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
- In some countries, there are not enough medical or educational facilities in rural areas. Therefore, some people believe newly graduated teachers and doctors should be sent to work in rural areas for some time. Others believe that people should be free to choose where they work after graduation. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
- Eighteen is the appropriate age for children to finish school.
To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement? - Some people argue that thanks to the widespread accessibility of the internet, libraries are no longer necessary. Do you agree or disagree?
- In many countries today the proportion of older people in the population is higher than the proportion of younger people. Do you think this is a positive or a negative development?
Useful Links
- Learn more about brainstorming ideas http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/how-can-you-think-of-ideas-for-your-ielts-essay/
- Download my free ebook "An ex-examiner's guide to the Band IELTS Descriptors": https://mailchi.mp/myieltsclassroom/examiner-guide-to-ielts-band-descriptors
Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.
Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:
- IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- IELTS Essay Corrections: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
- IELTS Speaking lessons: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
Over the last 12 months, I have noticed a definite move trend in the type of questions that IELTS students are being asked to address in writing task two. It seems that the classic "problem / solution" questions are appearing less and less and, instead, test-takers are being asked to write an IELTS 2-Part essay. But, what is a 2-part essay? And how should you approach one to maximise your chance of a high score? That is what Nick and I discuss in today's episode!
You can read more about today's episode at: https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-2-part-essay/
In this episode, we will
- explain what 2-Part IELTS essays are
- discuss how you should organise your paragraphs when writing these essays
- look at how to write the introductions, topic sentences and conclusions 2-Part essays
- share are Number 1 tip for 2-Part essays
Useful Links
- Join one of our IELTS Writing Packages: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- Download my free ebook "An ex-examiner's guide to the Band IELTS Descriptors": https://mailchi.mp/myieltsclassroom/examiner-guide-to-ielts-band-descriptors
Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.
Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:
- IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- IELTS Essay Corrections:https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
- IELTS Speaking lessons: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
- Free Podcast episodes: https://myieltsclassroom.buzzsprout.com
One of the main frustrations for IELTS test-takers is that IELTS does not provide a breakdown of the scores for writing or speaking. So, you know that you got a 6.5 for writing, but you don't know why. Was it a problem with lexis? Did you write off-topic? Or was it your Task One that let you down? Until now the answer has simply been, only the examiner knows.
However, this week, I received an email from a student that may change this. She was able to capitalise on the new European laws for data protection (called GDPR) to find out exactly what scores she was awarded in the 5 exams that she took earlier this year. Yes, she was able to find out her scores for Task Response, Coherence and Cohesion, Lexical Resource, and Grammatical Range and accuracy for Task One and Task Two, and her scores for Fluency, Lexis, Grammar and Pronunciation for listening. How did she do this? Listen to find out and then go to our blog post for this episode and follow the instructions to do the same!
You can find the full episode notes for this episode at : https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-exam-results/
Download my free ebook "An ex-examiner's guide to the Band IELTS Descriptors": https://mailchi.mp/myieltsclassroom/examiner-guide-to-ielts-band-descriptors
In this episode, we will:
- discuss the importance of knowing the breakdown of your scores
- explain how we discovered that it is now possible to apply for a breakdown
- go step-by-step through what you need to do to apply for a breakdown
- outline who we think that this new service could be beneficial for
Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.
Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:
- IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- IELTS Essay Corrections:https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
- IELTS Speaking lessons: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
- Free Podcast episodes: https://myieltsclassroom.buzzsprout.com
Hopefully, you have already completed our Introduction to IELTS Matching Headings questions and so know the basic techniques for approaching these questions well. If you haven't, I strongly recommend that you click on this link to complete the lesson now. Too many students rely on skimming or scanning to find the answers, or just reading the first and last lines of a paragraph.
Neither of those techniques work and will leave you feeling confused and frustrated
But, what do you do if you are already using good technique but still cannot find the correct answers? Well, you are definitely not alone. IELTS Matching Headings questions continue to be the most difficult for many students, which is why I have spent the last month analysing ALL of the headings questions from Cambridge books 6 - 16. I sat down, and went through all of books, typing out all of the headings to see if I could see any patterns in the type of language that IELTS uses in their headings. And, guess what? I did! So, in today's episode, Nick and I look at three techniques that you can use to help you improve your IELTS matching headings skills. As I said, this is not an introduction lesson, but a deep dive into the core skills that IELTS are testing. So, buckle up and prepare for the ride!
In this episode, we will:
- review the basics of IELTS Heading Match Questions
- look at the different types of information that headings match questions target
- break down some complicated headings to see how lexis plays a role in understanding
- show you how it is possible to interact with the text by predicting the layout of the reading using the headings
Useful Links
- Join our next 5-day intensive reading course: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/reading
- Read my blog post about True, False Not Given questions - http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/true-false-not-given-the-basics/
- Still can't find the answer? Take a deeper dive into the world of True False Not Given questions http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-true-false-not-given-i-understand-the-technique-so-why-cant-i-find-the-correct-answers/
- Download my free ebook "An ex-examiner's guide to the Band IELTS Descriptors": https://mailchi.mp/myieltsclassroom/examiner-guide-to-ielts-band-descriptors
Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey well.
Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:
- IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- IELTS Essay Corrections:https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
- IELTS Speaking lessons: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
- Free Podcast episodes: https://myieltsclassroom.buzzsprout.com
Tags: IELTSIEL
In the world of IELTS we often discuss “types” or essay (Discuss Both Sides, Advantages and Disadvantages, etc) and common topics (environment, work, education, etc), but we rarely talk about common "themes". Today I want to talk about one theme that often appears but is rarely discussed: essays that focus on social change.
These are essay questions which present a current social trend (the increase in crime, the loss of community, etc) and then ask you to examine it in some way. Today, Nick and I explain how to recognise IELTS social trend questions and how you should approach them to make sure that your writing is 100% on-topic.
You can find the full episode notes for this episode at
https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-social-trends/
In this episode, we will
- explain how to recognise social trend questions
- show you why many students do not address these questions correctly
- detail the best approach to answering these questions
- look at essay questions that ask you how to predict future social trends
Useful Links
- Learn more about brainstorming ideas http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/how-can-you-think-of-ideas-for-your-ielts-essay/
- Download my free ebook "An ex-examiner's guide to the Band IELTS Descriptors": https://mailchi.mp/myieltsclassroom/examiner-guide-to-ielts-band-descriptors
Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.
Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:
- IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- IELTS Essay Corrections: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
- IELTS Speaking lessons: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
- Free Podcast episodes: https://myieltsclassroom.buzzsprout.com
In the writing exam you will be given a topic that you need to address in an essay. One important IELTS skill, therefore, is being able to talk about the topic without repeating the sentences from the task. This is called "paraphrasing" and is one area where many students struggle. Why? Well, it is because there is so much false information about IELTS paraphrasing online (and in classrooms).
Many students have been told that you must NEVER repeat a word from the task.
This is not true.
Others think that they will be penalised if they repeat a word multiple times in the body of their essay.
Again, this is not true.
So, what is the truth about IELTS paraphrasing and what steps can you take to make sure that your essay is written and clearly and concisely as possible? Find out in today's episode of My IELTS Classroom!
You can find the full episode notes for this episode at
https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-paraphrasing/
In this episode, we will
- discuss the damage that a poor synonym can do to your essay
- explain why it is fine to repeat words from the task
- look at why you should attempt to paraphrase the main idea of a sentence rather than word for word
- look at the importance of including all of the main ideas in your paraphrase
Useful Links
- Learn more about brainstorming ideas http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/how-can-you-think-of-ideas-for-your-ielts-essay/
- Download my free ebook "An ex-examiner's guide to the Band IELTS Descriptors": https://mailchi.mp/myieltsclassroom/examiner-guide-to-ielts-band-descriptors
Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.
Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:
- IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- IELTS Essay Corrections: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
- IELTS Speaking lessons: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
- Free Podcast episodes: https://myieltsclassroom.buzzsprout.com
Nothing is more rewarding as a teacher than working with an exam class that is motivated to learn and improve. But, when are you ready as a teacher to start teaching exam classes? And, more importantly, once you are ready how do you start planning your classes? There is no one way how to teach IELTS, but in today's podcast, Nick and I go through the basics that can help you start. Then, before you know it, you will have your own "IELTS team" up and running!
You can find the full episode notes for this episode at https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/how-to-teach-ielts/
In this episode, we will discuss:
- when is the best time to take on an IELTS group
- factors that you should consider when planning your IELTS course
- what lessons you should include in the course
- the importance of teacher feedback
Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.
Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:
- IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- IELTS Essay Corrections: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
- IELTS Speaking lessons: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
- Free Podcast episodes: https://myieltsclassroom.buzzsprout.com
You know how some people like to relax by doing a crossword puzzle of a sudoko? Well, my ideal way to unwind would be doing dozens and dozens of IELTS General Training Reading Multiple Matching questions! You may think that I am joking, but I am 100% serious! Of all the IELTS reading questions, they are by far my favourite as they are quick and easy to complete and it is always clear when you have found the correct answer. So, join Nick and I today as we look at the three types of multiple matching questions to show you how you can master them.
This is an interactive lesson, so please download the questions here before you start the episode: https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-general-training-reading-multiple-matching/
In this episode, we will:
- explain the basics of IELTS GT Multiple Matching Questions
- look at the tricks that IELTS uses for this type of question i.e. why you should avoid key words
- discuss the differences between questions that ask you to compare products, experiences, and reviews
- describe the two best ways to approach these questions
Useful Links
- Join our next 5-day intensive reading course: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/reading
- Read my blog post about True, False Not Given questions - http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/true-false-not-given-the-basics/
- Still can't find the answer? Take a deeper dive into the world of True False Not Given questions http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-true-false-not-given-i-understand-the-technique-so-why-cant-i-find-the-correct-answers/
Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.
Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:
- IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- IELTS Essay Corrections:https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
- IELTS Speaking lessons: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
- Free Podcast episodes: https://myieltsclassroom.buzzsprout.com
One way to significantly improve your IELTS Coherence and Cohesion score is to avoid using "people" unnecessarily in your essay. If you can do this, you will find that your writing will be more concise, and you may even be able to pick up points for topic-specific lexis! Find out how to in today as Nick and I recover from England's football defeat!
You can read more about today's episodes at: https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-coherence-and-cohesion-score/
In this episode, we will
- show you how to replace "people" with more precise nouns
- discuss when you can just delete "people"
- explain how to use the passive voice, gerunds, and noun phrases to replace "people" in more complex sentences
Useful Links
- Join one of our IELTS Writing Packages: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- Read my blog post: Using good examples in IELTS essays
- Read my blog post: Where should I put an example in a paragraph? http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-examples-where-should-you-put-them-in-a-paragraph/
Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.
Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:
- IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- IELTS Essay Corrections:https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
- IELTS Speaking lessons: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
- Free Podcast episodes: https://myieltsclassroom.buzzsprout.com
How easy is it to score IELTS Band 8.0? Well, obviously the answer is "not very easy", but we work with dozens of students who are able achieve this score each year. Today, Nick and I discuss what you can do to help move up to a Band 8.0. We will go through each part of the exam, offering our advice as to what you should be focussing on to move from a 7.0 in each area. A Band 8.0 is not a score that everyone can achieve, but if you have the underlying language skills, it really is possible!
You can read more about today's episodes at: https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-band-8-0/
In this episode, we will
- discuss the foundational knowledge that you need to get an 8.0 in IELTS
- explain why Reading may be the on part of the exam where you can make a huge leap in score in a short period of time
- go through the listening, writing, and speaking exams to explain what the difference is between Band 7.0 and Band 8.0
Useful Links
- Read my blog post: Using good examples in IELTS essays
- Read my blog post: Where should I put an example in a paragraph? http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-examples-where-should-you-put-them-in-a-paragraph/
- Join one of our IELTS Writing Packages: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.
Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:
- IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- IELTS Essay Corrections:https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
- IELTS Speaking lessons: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
- Free Podcast episodes: https://myieltsclassroom.buzzsprout.com
The latest edition of the Cambridge series has just been published. In celebration of this, Nick and I explain what makes these books such a powerful resource for IELTS test takers. Then, we will go through the 4 essay questions in Cambridge IELTS 16 (Academic) to give our verdict on the new topics. Trust me - you want to listen to this, as one of them is unbelievably difficult!
You can find the full episode notes for this episode at
https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/cambridge-ielts-16/
In this episode, we will
- discuss what the Cambridge Books are and why they are so useful
- explain how you should use the Cambridge Books to improve your band score
- analyse the FOUR essay questions in Cambridge Book 16
Useful Links
- Join one of our IELTS Writing Packages: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- Learn more about brainstorming ideas http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/how-can-you-think-of-ideas-for-your-ielts-essay/
Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.
Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:
- IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- IELTS Essay Corrections: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
- IELTS Speaking lessons: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
- Free Podcast episodes: https://myieltsclassroom.buzzsprout.com
Hey! This week I published a new Blog Post called "3 steps to IELTS Cue Card Success". It is a compilation of all of the advice that I have given over the last 5 years for IELTS Speaking Part 2 and is a basic guide to preparing for IELTS Cue Cards.
In today's podcast episode, Nick and I go through that post, adding more depth and detail to the advice. Plus, we invite three of our British friends to attempt to answer some of the current cue cards topics. How well do they do? Well, you will have to listen to find out!
You can find the full episode notes for this episode and a transcript of the conversation at https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/preparing-for-ielts-cue-cards/
In the episode, we will discuss
- the 9 (or maybe 10) types of IELTS cue cards
- how you can keep speaking for 2 minutes
- the IELTS speaking band descriptors
Useful Links
- Join our next intensive speaking course: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Introduction to IELTS Speaking http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/introduction-to-ielts-speaking/
- How long should you speak for in Part 1? http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/how-long-talk-ielts-speaking-part-1/
- When IELTS Speaking Part 1 becomes strange: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/when-ielts-speaking-part-1-gets-strange/
Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.
Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:
- IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- IELTS Essay Corrections: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
- IELTS Speaking lessons: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
- Free Podcast episodes: https://myieltsclassroom.buzzsprout.com
Achieving a IELTS Band 9.0 is very special indeed. I am not sure of the official figures, but my guess is that less than 1% of test-takers receive this score each year. Having a Band 9.0 shows not just that a student has a C1/C2 level of English, but that they have excellent academic skills and are able to perform well under pressure.
Today, we have the pleasure of interviewing Anna Pakhomova who achieved this score in May 2021, with the individual bands of 9, 9, 8.5, 9 (the 8.5 is for writing). We discuss the dangers of preparing online (and trust me, Anna has some amazing stories about this!) and what she did to reach that elusive score. This is a great listen for any teacher or student who has the lofty goal of reaching band 9.0 - if nothing else, you can know that it is possible!
You can read more about today's episode at: https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-band-9/
Useful Links
- If you are just starting IELTS, then follow our free starters' guide: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/start-preparing-for-ielts/
- Struggling with writing? The sign up for one of our video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/catalog
Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.
Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:
- IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- IELTS Essay Corrections: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
- IELTS Speaking lessons: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
- Free Podcast episodes: https://myieltsclassroom.buzzsprout.com
In May last year, Nick and I undertook a 31-day IELTS Motivation Challenge. Our aim was to kick-start our students into good study habits, but we found that we made some positive changes in our own lives too. Now, it's a year later and we have a whole new set of listeners who we think can benefit from taking part in a new IELTS motivation challenge (plus, Nick and I have definitely slipped back into some old bad habits, so could do with a new challenge too!)
So, today, why not pledge to join us as we set out to conquer new challenges in June 2021? All you have to commit to is adding two things positive habits to your day and taking two negative ones away. Plus, we will help you by posting one simple IELTS practice activity on our Facebook page every day through the month of June. If you have been looking for a simple way to kick-start or re-start your IELTS preparation, then our IELTS motivation challenge 2021 is it!
You can find the full episode notes for this episode and a transcript of the conversation at https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-motivation-challenge-2/
In this episode, we will:
- give you 5 motivational techniques taken from lessons in our own lives
- explain what the motivational challenge is
- set you the task for the first day of the challenge
Useful Links
- Join one of our IELTS Writing Packages: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- Join our intensive listening course: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/listening
Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.
Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:
- IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- IELTS Essay Corrections: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
- IELTS Speaking lessons: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
- Free Podcast episodes: https://myieltsclassroom.buzzsprout.com
Have you ever sat at your desk looking at the items on your To-Do list and thought, why? Why is it that I never have time to get everything done? Why is it that it is always the same two or three things left at the end of every week, which I never, no mater how good my intentions, get round to finishing?
Well my friend, you are not alone. In fact, this week's episode is as much for me as it is for you, as I have decided that enough is enough. It is time to stop procrastinating and start doing! In other words, it is time to start eating those frogs (which you will understand when you start the episode!)You can find the full episode notes for this episode and a transcript of the conversation at http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-procrastination/
In this episode, we will:
- discuss what we procrastinate over and why
- look at three books that offer techniques to help you to avoid procrastinating and show you how you can apply these in your IELTS preparation
- set you the challenge to start eating frogs with us this week
Useful Links
- Join one of our IELTS Writing Packages: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- Join our intensive listening course: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/listening
Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.
Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:
- IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- IELTS Essay Corrections: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
- IELTS Speaking lessons: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
- Free Podcast episodes: https://myieltsclassroom.buzzsprout.com
Part 4 may initially appear as the most difficult part of the IELTS listening exam, but it can actually be much easier than Part 3 if you can learn to follow the notes and listen for the lecturer's sentence stress. Find out how in today's episode and learn how to avoid the 3 common tricks used in Part 4 at the same time!
You can find the full episode notes for this episode and a transcript of the conversation at http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-listening-part-4/
This is an interactive episode so please have a pen and piece of paper ready so that you can join in the activities.
In this episode, we will:
- look at the basics of IELTS Listening Part 4
- discuss how you can analyse the questions before the recording starts
- demonstrate how you can use all of the notes as scaffolding to help you follow the lecture
- show you the three tricks that IELTS exam writers use in this part of the test
- learn about the importance of recognising sentence stress in the lecture
Useful Links
- Join one of our IELTS Writing Packages: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- Join our intensive listening course: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/listening
Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.
Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:
- IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- IELTS Essay Corrections: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
- IELTS Speaking lessons: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
- Free Podcast episodes: https://myieltsclassroom.buzzsprout.com
Hey! If you are reading this, Nick and I would like to start by saying a massive THANK YOU. We started the My IELTS Classroom on May 1st 2020 for no other reason than the fact that we were bored in lockdown and wanted something positive to focus on, but since then it has grown into something really special.
To celebrate our one year birthday, I thought that we could go back and visit a short part of one episode from each of the different "themes" that have developed over the last year. I have to say that going back through our archive was a real joy as I had genuinely forgotten how much we have done in the last 12 months. It was also a shock as I realised how much I talk (and how patient dear Nick is to listen to me!)
You can read more about today's episodes at: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/my-ielts-classro…birthday-episode/
In this episode, we will look back at
- a t fact or myth episode
- a motivational episode
- an episode where I get to be the teacher and Nick is the student
- a breaking down recent essay questions episode
- an episode where we interact with our listeners
Useful Links
- Join one of our IELTS Writing Packages: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.
Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:
- IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- IELTS Essay Corrections: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
- IELTS Speaking lessons: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
- Free Podcast episodes: https://myieltsclassroom.buzzsprout.com
OK, I am going to be honest, punctuation isn't the sexiest topic. But, if you are trying to achieve a 7.0 or higher in your IELTS writing test, then you have to make sure that you are able to use commas, capital letters, and full stops accurately. Sadly, this is not always the case, and nothing makes me sadder than a student receiving a 6.0 for GRA because their punctuation was totally uncontrolled. So, join Nick and I today for a whistle-stop tour of the most important IELTS punctuation rules. Trust me, it's not as boring as it sounds!
You can read more about today's episodes at: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-punctuation/
In this episode, we will discuss
- how to use capital letters and spaces correctly
- how to use commas in compound sentences
- the difference between transition signals and subordinators and how that affects punctuation
- where you should NOT use a comma
Useful Links
- Join one of our IELTS Writing Packages: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- Learn more about brainstorming ideas http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/how-can-you-think-of-ideas-for-your-ielts-essay/
Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.
Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:
- IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- IELTS Essay Corrections: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
- IELTS Speaking lessons: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
- Free Podcast episodes: https://myieltsclassroom.buzzsprout.com
Education is one of the UK's biggest industries, but is it really worth paying for a higher education in the UK? And how can you choose the university and the degree course that is right for you? Well, in today's episode, Nick will look at both of these questions in detail, before discussing what you need to apply for a UK Student visa. This is a great opportunity to hear two native speakers, each with personal experience of studying in the UK, giving advice on how to make the most of your experience studying abroad. Plus, you will get the chance to hear what our previous students feel about their time studying in the UK.
You can read more about today's episodes at:
http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/studying-in-the-uk/
Disclaimer: Nick and I are IELTS experts, but we are not migration agents. You should use the information in this episode to help you decide if staying abroad is right for you, but you should also do your own research regarding current prices and visa regulations as these are subject to change.In this episode, we will discuss
- how to know if studying is the UK the right option for you
- how to choose the right university and degree course for you
- what you will need to apply for a student visa
Useful Links
- Learn more about brainstorming ideas http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/how-can-you-think-of-ideas-for-your-ielts-essay/
Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.
Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:
- IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- IELTS Essay Corrections: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
- IELTS Speaking lessons: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
- Free Podcast episodes: https://myieltsclassroom.buzzsprout.com
Every 3 or 4 months Nick and I sit down to review 6 recently reported IELTS essay questions that we think are interesting. Usually, this means choosing questions that focus on topics that we have never seen before, or questions that are in a new format (for example, new types of 2-part questions). However, this week we are doing something different.
We are looking at 6 difficult IELTS essay questions. And by difficult, I mean so difficult that even after 30+ years experience teaching IELTS between us, Nick and I struggled to come up with ideas. So, we challenge you to join us in planning these IELTS questions from hell!
This is an interactive lesson, so please go to our episode page to read and generate ideas for each of the questions before you listen: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/difficult-ielts-essay-questions/
In this episode, we will discuss the following questions
- Advances in science and technology have made the lifestyles in countries much more similar. Do you think it is a positive or negative development?
- Individual greed and selfishness have become the basis of the modern world. We need to return to traditional values of respect for family and community in order to create a better world for everyone. To what extent do you agree with these opinions?
- With the expansion of population, more and more people live in homes with small outdoor areas. Is this a negative or positive development?
- Some scientists think that there are intelligent life forms on other planets and messages should be sent to contact them. Other scientists think it is a bad idea and could be dangerous. Discuss both the views and give your opinion.
- The aim of popular TV programs should be to educate viewers on important social issues. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
- Some people find it difficult to speak in public or to give a presentation in front of an audience. Do you think public speaking is an important skill? Should public speaking be taught at school?
Useful Links
- Join one of our IELTS Writing Packages: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- Learn more about brainstorming ideas http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/how-can-you-think-of-ideas-for-your-ielts-essay/
Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.
Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:
- IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- IELTS Essay Corrections: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
- IELTS Speaking lessons: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
- Free Podcast episodes: https://myieltsclassroom.buzzsprout.com
Hey! Did you know that in Part 3 of the IELTS Listening test, you are often asked to listen for the speakers' attitudes to the topic that they are discussing? In fact, I think that this is what makes this part of the exam so tricky. You are no longer being asked to just match facts. Instead, you will have to identify if the speakers agree or disagree, or if they are surprised by, concerned about, or interested in the information that they are discussing. Today, Nick and I will look at two types of Part 3 question to show you how you can recognise this "language of attitude". Trust us, once you do, these questions become A LOT easier!
This is an interactive episode so please have a pen and piece of paper ready so that you can join in the activities.
You can find the full episode notes for this episode at http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-listening-skills/
In this episode, we will:
- discuss how listening part 3 is different to the other parts of the IELTS test
- show how you can recognise when the speakers agree or disagree with one another
- look at expressing preferences and surprise
Useful Links
- Join one of our IELTS Writing Packages: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- Join our intensive listening course: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/listening
Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.
Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:
- IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- IELTS Essay Corrections: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
- IELTS Speaking lessons: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
- Free Podcast episodes: https://myieltsclassroom.buzzsprout.com
If you are a regular listener to the My IELTS Classroom Podcast, then I am sure that you are already convinced about the benefits of using podcasts in your IELTS preparation. But, although listening to a dedicated IELTS podcast like ours is a great way to train, there are thousands of other podcasts on topic like economics, science and social trends that you can utilise podcasts to improve you exam-day performance.
In today's episode, we want to show you FIVE different ways that you can use podcasts to prepare for IELTS, and give you recommendations to specific episodes that I think are particularly useful to you get you started.
This is an INTERACTIVE lesson, so make sure that you have some pen and paper ready to participate!
You can read more about this episode on our blog: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/podcast-ielts/
In this episode, we will
- show you 5 specific podcast episodes that can help you generate ideas for an IELTS essay
- explain how you can use podcasts to learn vocabulary
- recommend 2 podcasts that are good for listening
- recommend 1 podcast that can help with your intonation in speaking
- recommend 5 podcasts that we think are just FUN!
Useful Links
- If you are just starting IELTS, then follow our free starters' guide: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/start-preparing-for-ielts/
- Struggling with writing? The sign up for one of our video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/catalog
Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.
Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:
- IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- IELTS Essay Corrections: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
- IELTS Speaking lessons: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
- Free Podcast episodes: https://myieltsclassroom.buzzsprout.com
Hey! It's time for another interactive lesson! Today, Nick and I look at IELTS reading multiple choice questions to show you the two best ways to approach this type of question, and four "examiner's tricks" that you may not be aware of!
Plus, we will explain why this type of question is absolutely unlike any other in the test as it is important that you read the passage before you check the four possible answers. What? You are advising us to read without a purpose? Of course not! We just think that there is a better method! What is it? You will need to listen to find out!
This is an interactive lesson, so please download the test and questions here before you start the episode: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-reading-multiple-choice-questions/
In this episode, we will:
- explain the basics of IELTS Reading Multiple Choice Questions
- describe the two best ways to approach these questions
- look at four "tricks" that the examiner use to confuse you and explain ow you can avid them
Useful Links
- Join our next 5-day intensive reading course: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/reading
- Read my blog post about True, False Not Given questions - http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/true-false-not-given-the-basics/
- Still can't find the answer? Take a deeper dive into the world of True False Not Given questions http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-true-false-not-given-i-understand-the-technique-so-why-cant-i-find-the-correct-answers/
Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.
Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:
- IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- IELTS Essay Corrections:https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
- IELTS Speaking lessons: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
- Free Podcast episodes: https://myieltsclassroom.buzzsprout.com
Hey! Today is my favourite type of episode - the one where I get to chat to a student whose IELTS journey is over. Today, we have Zina, a dentist from Iraq who I worked with one-to-one to help her reach her target scores. Honestly, I feel that Zina is more of a friend than a student, which is why I am was happy so to talk to her today about path to success and what life is like pst-IELTS.
You can read more about today's episode at: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-dentist/ In this episode, we will
- our delight at reaching 50,000 downloads
- discuss how we work with student's whose target score is a Band 6.0 or lower
- interview our past student Zina to find out what went wrong on her IELTS journey and how she finally made it come right!
Useful Links
- If you are just starting IELTS, then follow our free starters' guide: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/start-preparing-for-ielts/
- Struggling with writing? The sign up for one of our video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/catalog
Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.
Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:
- IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- IELTS Essay Corrections: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
- IELTS Speaking lessons: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
- Free Podcast episodes: https://myieltsclassroom.buzzsprout.com
Last week, Nick and I explained why inventing fake research and statistics to provide "examples" in your essays is exactly the opposite of what IELTS expects you to do, This week, we want to show how you can come up with GOOD examples i.e. those that extend, support and justify your arguments.
You can read more about today's episode at: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/good-ielts-examples/
In this episode, we will
- give you some useful vocabulary related to sleep
- show you how you can use examples from your own life to create a universal example
- look at 5 specific essay questions to come up with relevant examples for each
- discuss if it is OK to use an example from your own country and where exactly an example should be in a paragraph
Useful Links
- Read my blog post: Using good examples in IELTS essays https://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/good-ielts-examples/
- Read my blog post: Where should I put an example in a paragraph? http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-examples-where-should-you-put-them-in-a-paragraph/
- Join one of our IELTS Writing Packages: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.
Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:
- IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- IELTS Essay Corrections:https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
- IELTS Speaking lessons: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
- Free Podcast episodes: https://myieltsclassroom.buzzsprout.com
Did you know that recent research at Cambridge University has shown that 100% of My IELTS Classroom students are satisfied with their course? I know - it surprised me too! What surprises me more, however, is that students continue to use fake examples in IELTS essays to "support" their ideas. I cannot express strongly enough how depressed this makes me feel. So, in today's episode, I want to present my case as to why inventing fake statistics is pointless at best, and damaging to your writing score at worst.
You can read more about today's episodes at: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/fake-examples-in-ielts-essays/
In this episode, we will discuss
- what fake examples are
- why they are never taught in reputable IELTS books
- how they are the OPPOSITE of what is expected of you at university
- how they can lead to arguments that are repetitive and lack progression
- why they add NOTHING even in a well-written paragraph
Useful Links
- Join one of our IELTS Writing Packages :https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.
Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:
- IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- IELTS Essay Corrections:https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
- IELTS Speaking lessons: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
- Free Podcast episodes: https://myieltsclassroom.buzzsprout.com
Hey! Last week we asked you to email us any questions that you have about the IELTS exam, and boy did you deliver! Today, Nick and I try to answer as many as we can, which was a lot! If you are looking for general IELTS help, then this is the episode for you!
You can find the full episode notes and a list of the questions that we answer on our blog post page: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-help/
Useful Links
- Should you ask for a remark of your work? http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/request-ielts-remark/
- Computer-based test vs Paper-based test: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-computer-based-test-vs-paper-test/
Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.
Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:
- IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- IELTS Essay Corrections:https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
- IELTS Speaking lessons: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Free blog lessons:
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Welcome to our IELTS letters 2021 episode! Every time one of my students emails me their IELTS results, the fist thing I ask them is "What questions did you have in the writing exam?" There are two reasons for this: First, it helps me understand if our students are performing better in some type of questions than others (so I can support future students better). Second, it allows me to build a bank of recent exam questions that I can give to my students to use for high-quality practice.
This week, I updated my recent IELTS letters blog post to show 20 prompts that have been given in exams this year. Today, Nick and I discuss 8 of those questions in detail to look at what IELTS letters 2021 look like. In short, while the usual functions remain (explaining, asking, suggesting, complaining, etc), there are some new, interesting topics
You can find out more about today's lesson at http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-letters-2021/
In this episode, we will look at
- informal letter prompts from 2021 (there aren't many!)
- semi-informal letter prompts from 2021 (including a couple of new topics)
- formal letter prompts from 2021 (including some old friends and new enemies!)
Useful Links
- Watch the first three lessons in my General Training Task 1 video course: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/categories/general-training-writing-task-1
Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.
Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:
- IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- IELTS Essay Corrections: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
- IELTS Speaking lessons: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
- Free Podcast episodes: https://myieltsclassroom.buzzsprout.com
There is no doubt that Speaking Part Two can be challenging for many students. After all, talking continuously for 2 minutes is not something we do very often in every day life! However, is using the IELTS PPF method the best way to keep going until the examiner interrupts you? Nick and I think that it is definitely NOT for three reasons!
You can read more about today's episode at:
http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-ppf-method/ In this episode, we will
- explain what the IELTS PPF method is
- give four reason why we think that it doesn't work
- offer you some alternative better techniques to continue speaking in Part Two
Useful Links
- Join our next 5-day intensive speaking course: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- If you are just starting IELTS, then find out more about what happens in the exam in our Introduction to IELTS Speaking episode : http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/introduction-to-ielts-speaking/
- You may find our recent episode about the speaking band descriptors useful as well: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-speaking-band-descriptors/
Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.
Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:
- IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- IELTS Essay Corrections:https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
- IELTS Speaking lessons: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
- Free Podcast episodes: https://myieltsclassroom.buzzsprout.com
Yes, Nick and I are back to look at six more essay topics that have been reported from the IELTS tests in January 2021. We will breakdown each question to explain what makes it tricky and how you can approach it best.
This is an interactive lesson, so please go to our episode page to read and generate ideas for each of the questions before you listen: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-essay-questions-2021/
In this episode, we will discuss the following questions
- Some scientists think that computers will soon become more intelligent than humans. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?
- Some people believe that traveling alone is the best way to experience a country or a culture. Others feel that it is better to travel with people you know. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
- Some people believe that celebrating personal events is a waste of money. Others feel that these celebrations play an important role in the lives of individuals and in society as a whole. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
- Nowadays, many people drive to work or school instead of walking, cycling or using public transport. Does this trend have more advantages or more disadvantages?
- Most children want to watch the same TV programmes or play the same video games as their friends. Do you think parents should allow their children to do this?
- Playing team sports at school can teach students a number of lessons that are useful outside of sport. What values can students learn from playing team sports? How can they apply these values in the future?
Useful Links
- Learn more about brainstorming ideas http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/how-can-you-think-of-ideas-for-your-ielts-essay/
Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.
Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:
- IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- IELTS Essay Corrections: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
- IELTS Speaking lessons: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
- Free Podcast episodes: https://myieltsclassroom.buzzsprout.com
Not every student who sits the exam is doing so to study abroad or migrate. There are some students who simply want to set themselves a challenge and test their current level of academic English. Alisa was one such student. Despite being a graduate from the linguistics department with great language skills, she knew that the best way that she could progress in her own teaching career was to actually sit the IELTS test herself.
How did she get on? Great! Find out how My IELTS Classroom helped her to improve her band scores for writing and speaking by a massive 1.0, and how she now has much more confidence in her own classes having completed the course You can read more about today's episode at: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-teacher-training/
Useful Links
- If you are just starting IELTS, then follow our free starters' guide: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/start-preparing-for-ielts/
- Struggling with writing? The sign up for one of our video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/catalog
Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.
Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:
- IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- IELTS Essay Corrections: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
- IELTS Speaking lessons: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
- Free Podcast episodes: https://myieltsclassroom.buzzsprout.com
Hey! Are you considering taking the TOEFL test instead of IELTS? Then today's podcast is perfect for you as we go through the TOEFL test to explain how it is similar and different to IELTS. In fact, even if you are already on the IELTS path, you should find this lesson interesting as it shows a totally different approach to testing (and teaching) English as a Second Language.
In this episode, you will learn:
- the basic facts about the TEOFL test
- why you may want to considering sitting for it
- what you will need to do in each of the four parts of the test, including how you approach the integrated and independent tasks
Useful Links
- Watch the first three lessons in my General Training Task 1 video course: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/categories/general-training-writing-task-1
- Watch the first three lessons in my Academic Task 1 video course: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/categories/academic-writing-task-1
- Watch the first three lessons in my IELTS essay video course: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/programs/writing-task-2-academic-general-training
Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.
Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:
- IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- IELTS Essay Corrections:https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
- IELTS Speaking lessons: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
- Free Podcast episodes:
Hey! I think that we can all agree that IELTS 2020 has not been easy. COVID has meant that many of us have had to spend weeks or months indoors, with test centres around the world closing, university courses moving online, and future plans being put on hold as we all try to ride the storm into 2021.
However, despite of the hardships of this year, there have been bright spots.
This podcast has been one. It wouldn't exist if Nick and I hadn't had spare time on our hands during lockdown. So, join us today as Nick and I review what has been the Best and Worst of IELTS in 2020.
You can read more about today's episode at: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-2020/
Plus, you cans still enter the My IELTS Classroom Quiz to win a free monthly subscription to the My IELTS Classroom Bronze Writing Package by emailing your answers to these three questions and emailing by December 31st (hello@myieltsclassroom.com)! 🎅🎅🎅
- What did Nick put on his pizza earlier in the year?
- In August, Shelly went on holiday up a mountain - what couldn’t she eat OR what activity did she do?
- Nick and I both have our birthday in the same month – which one?
Useful Links
- If you are just starting IELTS, then follow our free starters' guide: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/start-preparing-for-ielts/
- Struggling with writing? The sign up for one of our video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/catalog
- Download my free ebook - An ex-examiner's guide to the IELTS Band Descriptors: https://mailchi.mp/myieltsclassroom/examiner-guide-to-ielts-band-descriptors
Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.
Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:
- IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- IELTS Essay Corrections:https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
- IELTS Speaking lessons: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
- Free Podcast episodes: https://myieltsclassroom.buzzsprout.com
Hey! The festive season is with us, and whether or not you are going home for Christmas or even celebrating at all, today, Nick and invite you to join us for three fun IELTS Christmas quizzes - we will practice some grammar, review some lexis and, most importantly, have some fun at the end of what has been a very long year!
Plus, you can enter the My IELTS Classroom Quiz to win a free monthly subscription to the My IELTS Classroom Bronze Writing Package by emailing your answers to these three questions and emailing by December 31st (hello@myieltsclassroom.com)! 🎅🎅🎅
- What did Nick put on his pizza earlier in the year?
- In August, Shelly went on holiday up a mountain - what couldn’t she eat OR what activity did she do?
- Nick and I both have our birthday in the same month – which one?
You can read more about today's episode at: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-christmas-quiz/
Useful Links
- If you are just starting IELTS, then follow our free starters' guide: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/start-preparing-for-ielts/
- Struggling with writing? The sign up for one of our video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/catalog
- Download my free ebook - An ex-examiner's guide to the IELTS Band Descriptors: https://mailchi.mp/myieltsclassroom/examiner-guide-to-ielts-band-descriptors
Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.
Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:
- IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- IELTS Essay Corrections:https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
- IELTS Speaking lessons: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
- Free Podcast episodes: https://myieltsclassroom.buzzsprout.com
The sad thing about headings match questions is that they are not only genuinely the most difficult type of question to answer in the reading test as they test you ability to summarise information, but they are made doubly-difficult by all of the poor advice given online about how to tackle them. In today's episode, Nick and I complete two IELTS headings matching questions (one GT and one academic) to show you the right way to approach these questions (and also to illustrate why they can be so difficult).
This is an interactive lesson, so please download the test and questions here before you start the episode: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-heading-matching/
In this episode, we will:
- show the wrong ways to approach these questions
- explain the importance or predicting
- complete two headings match questions in real-time so that you can learn how to locate the answers
Useful Links
- Join our next 5-day intensive reading course: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/reading
- Read my blog post about True, False Not Given questions - http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/true-false-not-given-the-basics/
- Still can't find the answer? Take a deeper dive into the world of True False Not Given questions http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-true-false-not-given-i-understand-the-technique-so-why-cant-i-find-the-correct-answers/
Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.
Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:
- IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- IELTS Essay Corrections: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
- IELTS Speaking lessons: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
- Free Podcast episodes: https://myieltsclassroom.buzzsprout.com
The matching questions in the IELTS exam should be easy. I mean, you can see the answers – they are just sitting there in the box. So why is it so difficult to match them? Well, today Nick and I will explain by breaking down the two types of listening matching questions to show you how they work and why they can be so tricky (Spoiler - it is all about SYNONYMS!)
This is an interactive episode so please have a pen and piece of paper ready so that you can join in the activities. You can see the questions at http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-listening-matching-questions/
In this episode, we will:
- explain the basics about IELTS listening matching questions
- look at the differences between one-to-on matching activities and A, B, C matching activities
- Complete 4 activities to show you how to approach these questions well
Useful Links
- Join our next 5-day intensive IELTS listening course: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/listening
- Listen to our previous episode about Listening Part 3: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-listening-part-3/
- Learn how to assess your own test results so that you an address your personal problem areas in listening and reading: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/prepare-for-ielts-reading-and-listening/
Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.
Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:
- IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- IELTS Essay Corrections: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
- IELTS Speaking lessons: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
- Free Podcast episodes: https://myieltsclassroom.buzzsprout.com
Hey! Many students feel confused when they start preparing for IELTS. With so much information online, it can be really hard to know how or where to begin to get the best results. In this post, I want to give you a simple step-by-step guide to starting your preparation for IELTS that is based on my experience training hundreds of students each year.
You can read more about today's episode at: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/start-preparing-for-ielts/ In this episode, we will explain
- how to know what type of test you need to take
- how to find out your current level of English (and why that is important)
- the steps near-native speakers should follow to successfully prepare for the test and how long they will take
- why writing will take the most preparation
- the steps second-language speakers should follow to successfully prepare for the test and how long they will take
- our top advice for a smooth IELTS experience
Useful Links
- If you are just starting IELTS, then follow our free starters' guide: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/start-preparing-for-ielts/
- Struggling with writing? The sign up for one of our video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/catalog
Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.
Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:
- IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- IELTS Essay Corrections: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
- IELTS Speaking lessons: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
- Free Podcast episodes: https://myieltsclassroom.buzzsprout.com
I sometimes think that the world that I live in is very different to the one that IELTS test-takers live in. For example, when I was a child, my sister and I played a lot of computer games. The result? A lot of happy memories and good hand-eye coordination. However, if you ask IELTS test-takers what the result of playing computer games is, the answer is always the same: blindness, lack of social skills, and maybe, a life of crime! You can read more about today's episodes at:
http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-overgeneralising/ Episode NotesIn IELTS overgeneralising is specifically mentioned in the band descriptors as a mistake that stops students getting an 8.0 for Task Response or higher. So, if you are a student who is looking for the very highest scores, then this episode is for you!
In this episode, we will discuss
- what hedging is and why you should use it
- how to come up with ideas that are less "dramatic" for your cause and effect essays
Useful Links
- Join one of our IELTS Writing Packages: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.
Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:
- IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- IELTS Essay Corrections: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
- IELTS Speaking lessons: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
- Free Podcast episodes: https://myieltsclassroom.buzzsprout.com
Episode NotesI know, I know, I know - not everybody likes grammar! In fact, even Nick hated it when he first started teaching. The problem, though, is that 25% of your score for writing and listening will be awarded based on your sentence structures. There are many places where students can make errors in the writing test, but day upon day, Nick and I see the same 3 common IELTS mistakes again and again. What are they? Well, you will need to listen to find out! You can find the show notes for this episode at http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/3-common-ielts-grammar-mistakes/
In this episode, we will discuss:
- why English people are not aware of English grammar rules (!)
- why students have problems making contrast sentences
- the importance of subject / verb agreement
- why plural nouns are so useful in IELTS essays
Useful Links
- Complete my free lesson for subject / verb agreement: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-grammar-subject-verb-agreement/
- Watch my free video lesson for contrast clauses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/programs/three-types-of-contrast
Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.
Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:
- IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- IELTS Essay Corrections: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
- IELTS Speaking lessons: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
- Free Podcast episodes: https://myieltsclassroom.buzzsprout.com
Today, we have a different type of episode! If you are looking for our usual informative lessons, then go back and have a listen to our back-catalogue as today Nick and I discuss the launch of the new My IELTS Classroom website. It has been a long six months preparing all of the new live lessons and getting the design right, so forgive us if we sound excited - this really is the biggest thing we have ever done and we can't wait for you to see it.
in the episode, ee will talk about what is new, why we made the changes, and what different it will make to you as a student. Why not have a look at the new courses today at www.myieltsclassroom.com
We'll be back next week with a totally new IELTS lesson!
Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:
- IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- IELTS Essay Corrections: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
- IELTS Speaking lessons: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
- Free Podcast episodes: https://myieltsclassroom.buzzsprout.com
How can you make sure that your reports for IELTS line graphs always compare and summarise? You can follow the simple strategies that we are going to give you today!
This is an interactive lesson, so make sure you have this webpage open as you listen so you can see the charts and follow the class! http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-line-graphs/
Episode NotesThe reason we have chosen to look at line graphs is that these are the charts that cause students the most problems. Line graphs give students the opportunity to use some unique lexis that cannot be used to describe other types of chart. For example, you can use "increase" and "decrease" to describe changes on a line graph, bar chart, pie charts, and even a table. However, expressions like hit a peak, hit a trough, overtake, fluctuate and stabilise can only be used in a line graph.
On the one hand, this is good as it gives students the chance to show off their vocabulary. However, usually what happens is that students want to use ALL of this lexis in their report - this is a mistake. When students focus on showing off their lexis, they usually only describe the micro-trends (i.e. every up, down and peak) instead of making comparisons.
Today we will show you how to make sure you make effective comparisons every time you write an IELTS line graph report. PLUS, I'll be introducing you to the latest IELTS key feature for line graphs. Amazing!
In this episode, you will learn:
- the basic facts about IELTS Academic Writing Task One
- the similarities between General Training and Academic Task One (yes, there are some!)
- how to analyse charts to find good key features for your line graph overview
- the order in which you should present the information in the line graph to ensure your report is east to read AND makes comparisons
Useful Links
- Watch the first three lessons in my Academic Task 1 video course: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/categories/academic-writing-task-1
- Download my free ebook "An ex-examiner's guide to the Band IELTS Descriptors": https://mailchi.mp/myieltsclassroom/examiner-guide-to-ielts-band-descriptors
Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.
Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:
- IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- IELTS Essay Corrections: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
- IELTS Speaking lessons: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
- Free Podcast episodes: https://myieltsclassroom.buzzsprout.com
Do you know the difference between a good IELTS letter and a great one? The tone! Writers who are able to engage with the question and write IELTS letters that feels AUTHENTIC are those who walk away with a 7.5 or an 8.0 for General Training Writing Task One instead of a 6.5 or 6.0. You can find out more about today's lesson at http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-letters/
Episode NotesToday, Nick and I are going to focus on how you can analyse the prompt to make your formal and semi-formal letters feel as genuine as possible. And, if you are an Academic student, DON'T SWITCH OFF! There is a lot to learn here about engaging with an IELTS question that can help you with your essay writing (and also, the lesson is just a lot of fun!)
In this episode, you will learn:
- the basic facts about the IELTS General Training writing test
- the importance of the addressing the bullets fully
- the importance of tone and using our imagination
- how to analyse prompts to make sure you adapt your language to the specific situation described in the task
- how to invent specifics that give you the best chance of extending your answer successfully
- Watch the first three lessons in my General Training Task 1 video course: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/categories/general-training-writing-task-1
Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.
Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:
- IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- IELTS Essay Corrections: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
- IELTS Speaking lessons: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
- Free Podcast episodes: https://myieltsclassroom.buzzsprout.com
Hey! It’s my favourite type of podcast – the one where I get to sit down and talk to one of our students whose IELTS journey has come to an end. In fact, this week it was Nick who sat down with Abdelaziz to find out how he was able to pass IELTS first time with an overall score of 8.0 (including an 8.0 for writing!). If you are looking for inspiration, motivation, or just good advice about what you can do to reach your target score, then stop listening to me, and start listening to our lovely student, Abdelaziz, who is our IELTS success story today!
You can read more about today's episode at: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-success-canada/ In this episode, we will
- discuss what we know about Canada and why so many students want to migrate there
- interview our past student Abdelaziz to find out what techniques he used to pass the test FIRST TIME
Useful Links
- If you are just starting IELTS, then follow our free starters' guide: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/start-preparing-for-ielts/
- Struggling with writing? The sign up for one of our video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/catalog
Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.
Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:
- IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- IELTS Essay Corrections: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
- IELTS Speaking lessons: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
- Free Podcast episodes: https://myieltsclassroom.buzzsprout.com
After the popularity of our first IELTS essay breakdown, Nick and I are back to look at five MORE essay topics from the 2020 Academic and General Training IELTS tests.
This is an interactive lesson, so please go to our episode page to read and generate ideas for each of the questions before you listen: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-essay-topics-2020/
In this episode, we will discuss
- why some tasks require topic-specific language to be tackled well
- how to best tackle 2-Part questions that ask for causes of a trend and if it is a positive or negative development
- which view you should agree with if you are asked if something is the "best way"
Useful Links
- Download my free ebook "An ex-examiner's guide to the Band IELTS Descriptors": https://mailchi.mp/myieltsclassroom/examiner-guide-to-ielts-band-descriptors
- Learn more about brainstorming ideas http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/how-can-you-think-of-ideas-for-your-ielts-essay/
Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.
Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:
- IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- IELTS Essay Corrections: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
- IELTS Speaking lessons: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
- Free Podcast episodes: https://myieltsclassroom.buzzsprout.com
True? False? Not given? Never have four small words caused so much pain for so many people! But, worry no more! Today, Nick and I will unlock the mysteries of IELTS True False Not Given Questions once and for all....
This is an interactive lesson, so please download the test and questions here before you start the episode: https://tinyurl.com/y2z3rps9
In this episode, we will:
- show you the difference between scanning keywords and control keywords
- go through the most common types of control words with examples
- clearly explain how to decide if an answer is false or not given (it is all about the TRUTH!)
- explain the best way to approach True, False, Not Given questions (and, guess what, it is not just scanning!)
You can read more about today's episode at: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-true-false-not-given/
Useful Links
- Join our next 5-day intensive reading course: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/reading
- Read my blog post about True, False Not Given questions - http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/true-false-not-given-the-basics/
- Still can't find the answer? Take a deeper dive into the world of True False Not Given questions http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-true-false-not-given-i-understand-the-technique-so-why-cant-i-find-the-correct-answers/
Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.
Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:
- IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- IELTS Essay Corrections: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
- IELTS Speaking lessons: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
- Free Podcast episodes: https://myieltsclassroom.buzzsprout.com
Today, we enter the "enemy camp" to talk to Katerina Polianskaya, the administrator at LT Pro, an IELTS IDP test centre here in St Petersburg, Russia, to find out what happens "behind the scenes" at an IELTS test centre.
Honestly, I really didn't think that Kate would be able to answer very many of the questions that I had for her because I thought it would all be "sensitive" but in the end she gave me a clear answer to EVERY question, including classics like
- What happens if you write T and F instead of True and False on your reading answer sheets
- How are the scores for writing Task 1 and Task 2 combined
- Can I change my identification after I have lodged my application?
- Will your score be negatively affected if you complain?
You can read more about today's episodes at http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-idp-test-centre/
Useful Links
- Book a test at LT Pro - https://lt-pro.ru
- Download my free ebook "An ex-examiner's guide to the Band IELTS Descriptors" here: https://mailchi.mp/myieltsclassroom/examiner-guide-to-ielts-band-descriptors
Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.
Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:
- IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- IELTS Essay Corrections: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
- IELTS Speaking lessons: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
- Free Podcast episodes: https://myieltsclassroom.buzzsprout.com
Is the IELTS computer delivered test right for you? Well, that will depend a number of factor, some practical (like time and price) and some educational (like can you read in detail in a computer). But, don't worry - today Nick and I will take you on a full tour of the computer delivered test so that you can work out if you want to type your answers or stick to good old pen and pencil. You can read more about today's episodes at http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-computer-delivered-test/ Episode notesIt was only when I got to try out the computer delivered IELTS test a few months ago that I realised how different it actually was to the original paper-based test. Was it better? Honestly, for me it was, but I don't think that will be true for everybody. And that's what we'll explore in this episode. In this episode, we will
- explain the practical differences between the two tests
- go through the IELTS listening, reading, and writing tests in detail to explain what is better and what is worse when sitting on the computer
- show you the official IDP introduction Powerpoint presentation so that you can learn how to control the computer properly
Useful Links
- Watch my video presentation here: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-computer-delivered-test/
- Go and take the official British Council computer delivered practice test are: https://takeielts.britishcouncil.org/take-ielts/prepare/computer-delivered-ielts/familiarisation-test.
Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.
Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:
- IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- IELTS Essay Corrections: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
- IELTS Speaking lessons: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
- Free Podcast episodes: https://myieltsclassroom.buzzsprout.com
One thing I have learned while running My IELTS Classroom is that many students need as much emotional support from me as academic guidance. However, I sometimes feel that I do not have the skills needed to help my students who are dealing with failure and IELTS stress management.
That is why today, I am so glad to be able to share this interview with the psychologist and art therapist Beverley A'court who takes us through every aspect of stress and failure to give you (and me) some simple techniques that we can use to cope with these difficult emotions. You can read more about today's episodes at http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-stress-management/
Episode notesIn this episode Beverley will talk us through the feeling of stress, fear, and shame before offering some simple activities that you can do to combat these negative emotions. PLEASE have a piece of paper and pen handy so that you can take part. In this episode, we will discuss
- how natural stress is different to the stress that we feel in modern life
- how internal conversations about the future and the past can create a cycle of stress, particularly in exams.
- what physically happens to you when you are stressed (and how this can affect you in the exam room)
- the three levels of attack that you can use to combat stress
- the benefits of having plants and flowers in your study environment. Plus, how holding a smooth stone can be soothing while you tackle a difficult exercise
- the difference between guilt and shame
- how to STOP negative self-talk
- how to deal with the pressure of family expectation
Useful Links
- You can watch the video version of this interview here: https://youtu.be/3tTYmIJsR8A
- You can listen to more of Beverley A'Court's advice here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCH-KvZpGJfymcrVDSuzUaeA
- You can read my blog post about staying calm in the IELTS exam room here: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/importance-of-staying-calm-ielts/
- You can read my blog post about moving forward after a failed exam attempt here: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/failed-the-ielts-test/
Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.
Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:
- IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- IELTS Essay Corrections: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
- IELTS Speaking lessons: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
- Free Podcast episodes: https://myieltsclassroom.buzzsprout.com
Tags: IELTSIELTS writingIELTS essay correction serviceIELTS marking
Episode is Live
Published: Aug. 04, 2020 @ 7AMEdit
Unpu<
Most students think that IELTS Listening Part 1 is the easiest part of the test, but I disagree! I have seen many high-level student lose marks here, which can be a complete disaster if you are aiming for the highest band scores, like an 8.0 for CLB9. You can read more about today's episode at: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-listening-part-1/
Episode NotesIn today's episode, Nick and I want to show you the 4 most common reasons why students make errors in this part of the test, and explain what you can do to avoid falling for these IELTS "traps". In this episode, we will:
- remind you of the basic information about IELTS Listening Part 1
- explain the False Answer Trick
- look at the different types of numbers you may hear in IELTS Listening Part 1
- check your spelling
- play a fun game at the end to test your levels of concentration!
This is an interactive episode so please have a pen and piece of paper ready so that you can join in the activities.
Useful Links
- Join our next 5-day intensive IELTS listening course: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/listening
- Listen to our previous episode about Listening Part 3: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-listening-part-3/
- Learn how to assess your own test results so that you an address your personal problem areas in listening and reading: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/prepare-for-ielts-reading-and-listening/
Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.
Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:
- IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- IELTS Essay Corrections: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
- IELTS Speaking lessons: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
- Free Podcast episodes: https://myieltsclassroom.buzzsprout.com
One of the best ways that you can motivate yourself to study IELTS is to focus on what life will be like after you pass the exam. If you are looking for inspiration, motivation, or just good advice about preparation, then listen to Noor, our Pakistani doctor who is today's IELTS success story!. She will teach you that just because you don't pass first time, it doesn't mean you can't be a winner! You can read more about today's episode at: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-success-story-noor/ In this episode, we will
- discuss what differentiates students who get their desired bad score from those who do not
- interview our past student Noor to find out what techniques she used to pass the test and what her life is like now that she is free of IELTS
Useful Links
- If you are just starting IELTS, then follow our free starters' guide: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/start-preparing-for-ielts/
- Struggling with writing? The sign up for one of our video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/catalog
Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.
Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:
- IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- IELTS Essay Corrections: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
- IELTS Speaking lessons: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
- Free Podcast episodes: https://myieltsclassroom.buzzsprout.com
Hands up if you find it hard to motivate yourself to study 🤚 You are not alone! Almost every student I work with struggles at some point to find the energy and determination to hit the IELTS books. That's why today, Nick and I want to invite you to join out 30 Day IELTS Motivation Challenge to get you back on track and studying hard!
You can read more about today's episode and find ideas for changes to make at: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-motivation-challenge/ Episode NotesIf you want to start preparing for IELTS for the last time....
If you want to swap feeling bad about your progress with feeling fantastic....
If you want me to stand beside you and push you forward.......
... then THIS is the moment to start!
In this episode, we will
- give you FIVE motivation techniques that you can use to kick start your IELTS preparation
- explain the power of making small changes in your study habits for 30 consecutive days
- invite you to join our 30 day IELTS motivation challenge!
Useful Links
- Get an inspiring post with a link to a useful free IELTS practice every day this month on my Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/myIELTSclassroom/
- Watch the original TED talk that inspired this episode: https://www.ted.com/talks/matt_cutts_try_something_new_for_30_days
- Find suggestions for things to add and take away on the blog post page for this episode http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-motivation-challenge/
- Complete the free lessons on my blog: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.
Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:
- IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- IELTS Essay Corrections: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
- IELTS Speaking lessons: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
- Free Podcast episodes: https://myieltsclassroom.buzzsprout.com
Today, Nick and I look at five essay questions from the 2020 Academic and General Training IELTS tests. Why these five? Well, I think that they represent the most difficult questions reported to me by my students!
This is an interactive lesson, so please go to our episode page to read and generate ideas for each of the questions before you listen: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-2020-essay-questions/ Episode NotesWant to know how two IELTS teachers would unlock the most difficult IELTS essay questions of 2020? Well, you are in the right place! We will breakdown each question to explain what makes it so tricky and how you can approach it best.
In this episode, we will
- talk about why you should be very careful about using reported IELTS questions
- take a detailed look at each of the 5 questions to help you unlock them
- discuss how many ideas you should come up with in practice
Useful Links
- Watch the first three lessons in my General Training Task 1 video course: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/categories/general-training-writing-task-1
- Watch the first three lessons in my Academic Task 1 video course: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/categories/academic-writing-task-1
- Watch the first three lessons in my IELTS essay video course: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/programs/writing-task-2-academic-general-training
- Learn more about brainstorming ideas http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/how-can-you-think-of-ideas-for-your-ielts-essay/
Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.
Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:
- IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- IELTS Essay Corrections: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
- IELTS Speaking lessons: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
- Free Podcast episodes: https://myieltsclassroom.buzzsprout.com
Somebody stole my IELTS lessons! Over the last couple of years, I have noticed that teachers often take my ideas and introduce them into their own classes. Usually, I don't mind this, but last week I discovered that somebody was copying my content and presenting it as their own. This made me realise that I really need to teach my students how to know the difference between a good IELTS teacher and an average (or even poor) one. And guess what? That is exactly what Nick and I do in this episode! You can find the full episode notes for this episode and a transcript of the conversation at http://podcast.myieltsclassroom.com/
Episode NotesHow can you tell if your teacher is really qualified to teach you IELTS? Is there a qualification that all IELTS teachers need? Are native speakers better teachers than non-native ones? And what do good teachers do in class? Well, you just need to listen to find out!
In this episode, we will discuss:
- why you really need to learn from a qualified teacher (and not a past test-taker)
- what qualifications good teachers have
- the difference between native and non-native teachers
- why good teachers are familiar with the IELTS test
- how to find out if a teacher is qualified to teach you from their behaviour in class
- whether private lessons or group lessons are best
- the important role that motivation plays in learning a language
Useful Links
- Watch the first three lessons in my General Training Task 1 video course: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/categories/general-training-writing-task-1
- Watch the first three lessons in my Academic Task 1 video course: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/categories/academic-writing-task-1
- Watch the first three lessons in my IELTS essay video course: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/programs/writing-task-2-academic-general-training
Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.
Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:
- IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- IELTS Essay Corrections: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
- IELTS Speaking lessons: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
- Free Podcast episodes: https://myieltsclassroom.buzzsprout.com
Many students find Part 3 of the IELTS listening test the most difficult. There are a number of reasons for this: there are more than two voices, the questions usually focus on the outcome of a discussion in which many views are offered, and you may also be asked to locate a person's feelings (and we all know that feelings are much harder to find than facts!) You can find the full episode notes for this episode and a transcript of the conversation at http://podcast.myieltsclassroom.com/
Episode NotesIn today's episode, Nick and I try make Part 3 slightly easier by going through FOUR of the common "tricks" used by IELTS test writers that you can avoid being fooled by them. In this episode, we will:
- remind you of the basic information about Listening Part 3
- examine the Rapid Fire Key Words Trick
- examine the Synonyms Trick
- the Have You Read the Question Properly Trick
- the Several Speakers Trick
This is an interactive episode so please have a pen and piece of paper ready so that you can join in the activities.
Useful Links
- Join our intensive listening course: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/listeningWatch the first three lessons in my General Training Task 1 video course: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/categories/general-training-writing-task-1
- Watch the first three lessons in my Academic Task 1 video course: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/categories/academic-writing-task-1
- Watch the first three lessons in my IELTS essay video course: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/programs/writing-task-2-academic-general-training
Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.
Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:
- IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- IELTS Essay Corrections: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
- IELTS Speaking lessons: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
- Free Podcast episodes: https://myieltsclassroom.buzzsprout.com
In April 2020, the new IELTS Indicator test went live. However, is this new online test from IELTS suitable for every test-taker? Definitely not! Today, Nick I explain exactly what you should consider before you apply for the test (and there is a lot!) You can find the full episode notes for this episode and a transcript of the conversation at http://podcast.myieltsclassroom.com/
Episode NotesIELTS tests are currently cancelled in almost every country in the world because of COVID19, which is causing problems for all IELTS test-takers. Doctors are unable to get a certificate to register for PLAB, those who wish to migrate are unable to prove their level of English fir their visa applications, and students wishing to start a university course in September are currently unable apply to an academic institution.
Obviously, all of these groups of students are equally important, but it is the final group who are the biggest and have the most pressing need. Right now is the time when European and American universities accept applications for courses that in September. However, with no IELTS tests running, it's impossible for them to offer students a place as they don't know who has the right level of English to complete undergraduate and post graduate courses. So, to help these universities, IELTS have come up with a solution – The IELTS Indicator test.
In this episode, we will:
- discuss why IELTS have introduced the Indicator test
- explain clearly who the test is for (because it is NOT every test taker!)
- go through the technical requirements of the test (which is something you must consider before signing up)
- predict how the test will remain secure
- discuss if online tests at home are the future of IELTS!
Useful Links
- Read my Introduction to the IELTS Indicator test blog post: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/new-ielts-indicator-test/
Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.
Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:
- IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- IELTS Essay Corrections: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
- IELTS Speaking lessons: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
- Free Podcast episodes: https://myieltsclassroom.buzzsprout.com
If you are worried about IELTS reading, then you are in the right place! Today, Nick and I will tell you everything you need to start preparing for the IELTS reading test. This is the fourth episode of our IELTS 101 series and can find the full episode notes and a transcript of the conversation at http://podcast.myieltsclassroom.com/
Episode NotesYes, it is time to look at IELTS reading - the first of the two tests that are different for Academic and General Training students. Today, Nick and I will talk you through the basic facts of both tests, such as how long they last, and the type of texts you can expect to find in each part. Then, we will have a look at each of the question types in the exam and give you some clear advice about how to tackle each of them (spoiler - scanning does not work for every question!). We'll also show you which reading skills each of the questions is targeting, so that you can understand what your weak areas are and how you can improve them.
In this episode, you will find out:
- basic facts about the IELTS reading test (number of sections, time, etc)
- what types of topics you can expect to read about in the passages of the Academic and General Training reading tests
- the 10 types of question that you might be asked to tackle in the text
- how you should start to prepare for the IELTS listening test
- our top advice for scoring well in the test
Useful Links
- Common words that repeat in General Training reading tests: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/words-that-repeat-in-the-ielts-general-training-reading-test/
- How to tackle headings match questions: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-headings-match/
- How to tackle information match questions: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-reading-information-match-questions/
- How to tackle True / False / Not Given questions: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/true-false-not-given-the-basics/
Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.
Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:
- IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- IELTS Essay Corrections: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
- IELTS Speaking lessons: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
- Free Podcast episodes: https://myieltsclassroom.buzzsprout.com
Today, Nick and I introduce you to all aspects of the IELTS listening test. This is the third episode in our IELTS 101 series and you can find the full episode notes and a transcript of the conversation at http://podcast.myieltsclassroom.com/
Episode NotesMany students find that listening is the easiest of the four tests, but it can still definitely be very tricky if you don't prepare well. As usual in our 101 series, Nick and I start the episode by giving you some basic facts about the IELTS listening test, including the types of conversation that you will hear in each part and the types of question you will have to tackle.
Then, we will go on to chat about some more complex aspects of listening such as the importance of being able to understand different accents (with Nick doing some fantastic impressions) and how you can follow conversations with more than two speakers.
In this episode, you will learn:
- the basic facts about the IELTS listening tests (number of parts, reading time, etc)
- the types of questions that you will have to tackle in the test
- which listening skills IELTS tests during the exam
- which accents you can expect to hear in the test (there are a lot!)
- why spelling is important
- how many questions you will need to get correct to get each band score
- how parts 1 and 2 specifically test General Training students, and parts 3 and 4 specifically target Academic students
- which types of text and questions you get in listening Part 1
- why IELTS removed the example from the start of the test
- which types of text and questions you get in listening Part 2
- which types of text and questions you get in listening Part 3
- which types of text and questions you get in listening Part 4
- our advice for how to get a high score in IELTS listening
If you are just starting your IELTS journey, then you can find out EVERYTHING you need to know about listening in this episode (plus you can practice your listening at the the same time!!!)
Useful Links
- How many points do you need to get a particular band score: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/start-preparing-for-ielts/
- Which podcasts will help you to improve your listening score: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/best-podcasts-for-ielts/
- Ted Talks: https://www.ted.com/talks
Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.
Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:
- IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- IELTS Essay Corrections: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
- IELTS Speaking lessons: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
- Free Podcast episodes: https://myieltsclassroom.buzzsprout.com
Welcome to My IELTS Classroom podcast. In the first episode of our IELTS 101 series, Nick and I introduce you to the basics of the IELTS test. If you are just starting your IELTS preparation, then this is the perfect episode for you, as we cover everything from what "IELTS" means to how your final score is calculated (and everything in between!). You can find the full episode notes for this episode and a transcript of the conversation at http://podcast.myieltsclassroom.com/
Episode NotesThe world of IELTS can seem a bit scary when you first start your preparation - but I promise that it doesn't have to be! Nick and I work hard to make taking IELTS as painless as possible (and even a little but fun!) Today, we want to start right from the very beginning by taking you through all of the basic facts about the IELTS exam.
In this episode, you will learn the answers to these questions:
- What does the word IELTS mean (and how is it pronounced!)?
- Who are Cambridge, IDP and the British Council?
- How can you choose the best IELTS test centre in your local area?
- Why do people need to take the IELTS exam?
- What is the differences between the Academic IELTS exam and the General Training IELTS exam?
- What do the IELTS scores mean (and how can you understand your current level)?
- Should you sit the new computer-based IELTS test or stick with the original paper-based test?
In fact, by the end of the lesson you will have all of the information you need to start your IELTS preparation in the best possible way.
Useful Links
- Read more about the difference between IDP and the British Council: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/british-council-vs-idp/
- Find your local test centres: https://www.ielts.org/book-a-test/find-a-test-location.
- Find your current level: https://www.cambridgeenglish.org/test-your-english/general-english/
- Read more about the difference between the paper-based test and the computer based test: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com/ielts-computer-based-test-vs-paper-test/
Rate and review My IELTS Classroom
If you are on Apple Podcasts, help us to help more people just like you by rating and reviewing our show. Reviews let other students - just like you - find our information-packed episodes and start their IELTS journey in the best possible way.
Remember, My IELTS Classroom offers a range of IELTS services:
- IELTS Video courses: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/writing
- IELTS Essay Corrections: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/marking
- IELTS Speaking lessons: https://www.myieltsclassroom.com/pages/speaking
- Free blog lessons: http://blog.myieltsclassroom.com
- Free Podcast episodes: https://myieltsclassroom.buzzsprout.com